George Ball (Burpee)
Encyclopedia
George Carl Ball Jr. is an American seedsman who has served as chairman and CEO of W. Atlee Burpee
since 1991. After studying at Bard College
and DePaul University
, he joined Ball Seed in the late 1970s. He later worked as a marketing
executive at Pan American Seed, where he was named that company's president in 1984. When the opportunity presented itself, George Ball acquired Burpee
, and took on the roles of Burpee's CEO and Chairman.
George Ball is currently Chairman of the Board of the Burpee Foundation and a trustee of the Horticultural Society of New York. From 1990 to 1993, he served as the President of the American Horticultural Society
and was the youngest in the organization's history. George Ball has served as a trustee on numerous boards, including Bard College
(1996-2001), The Orme School
(1995-2000), and The National Gardening Association. He was President of his family foundation for two years (2000-2002). George Ball also participated in numerous seed relief efforts. In February of 2004, he contributed to what can may be categorized as the largest vegetable seed relief shipment in history involving aid to farmers in Iraq
--in collaboration with the Coalition Partnership Authority and United States Department of Defense
. George Ball's awards include the Wilfred Jung Distinguished Service Award from the Garden Writers Association of America, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Horticulture Society of New York, the President's Medal of Appreciation from the American Horticultural Society
, and the "Design 100" from Metropolitan Home Magazine
. George Ball's opinion articles have appeared in The New York Times
, The Wall Street Journal
, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
, and The Philadelphia Inquirer
, and other newspapers.
W. Atlee Burpee
Washington Atlee Burpee was the founder of the W. Atlee Burpee & Company, now more commonly known as Burpee Seeds...
since 1991. After studying at Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
and DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
, he joined Ball Seed in the late 1970s. He later worked as a marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
executive at Pan American Seed, where he was named that company's president in 1984. When the opportunity presented itself, George Ball acquired Burpee
Burpee Seeds
Burpee Seeds, officially W. Atlee Burpee & Co., is a seed company that was founded by Washington Atlee Burpee in 1876.-History:The company first sold garden seeds, farm supplies, tools, poultry and hogs. The direction of the company began to change with the death of its founder in 1915 when his...
, and took on the roles of Burpee's CEO and Chairman.
George Ball is currently Chairman of the Board of the Burpee Foundation and a trustee of the Horticultural Society of New York. From 1990 to 1993, he served as the President of the American Horticultural Society
American Horticultural Society
The American Horticultural Society is a nonprofit, membership-based organization that promotes excellence in American horticulture. It is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia....
and was the youngest in the organization's history. George Ball has served as a trustee on numerous boards, including Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
(1996-2001), The Orme School
The Orme School of Arizona
The Orme School of Arizona is a private boarding and day elementary, middle and high school in Mayer, Arizona. It is located along Ash Creek and surrounded by public land and an operating cattle ranch. Its symbol is the "Quarter Circle V Bar", a name once used for the school and cattle ranch...
(1995-2000), and The National Gardening Association. He was President of his family foundation for two years (2000-2002). George Ball also participated in numerous seed relief efforts. In February of 2004, he contributed to what can may be categorized as the largest vegetable seed relief shipment in history involving aid to farmers in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
--in collaboration with the Coalition Partnership Authority and United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. George Ball's awards include the Wilfred Jung Distinguished Service Award from the Garden Writers Association of America, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Horticulture Society of New York, the President's Medal of Appreciation from the American Horticultural Society
American Horticultural Society
The American Horticultural Society is a nonprofit, membership-based organization that promotes excellence in American horticulture. It is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia....
, and the "Design 100" from Metropolitan Home Magazine
Metropolitan Home
Metropolitan Home was a magazine published by Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. The magazine focused on "high-end modern design and interiors, blended with intelligent reporting, to connect with a progressive reader mindset." It was originally published from 1974 through 1981 as Apartment Life,...
. George Ball's opinion articles have appeared in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and its suburbs. The AJC, as it is called, is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the result of the merger between The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta...
, and The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, and other newspapers.
Published works
- 2011: The Year of the Vegetable
- George Ball: Mix and match
- Seeds: Nature's Microchips
- Naturalism Has Been Hijacked
- Border War
- How Does Your Garden Grow?; Stand Up For Hybrids
- Heirloom fundamentalists go too green
- Allow resolutions to grow, bear fruit
- The empire beckons back?
- A garden in every backyard
- $11 million is fair price for Heronswood botanical garden
- Politicians should cultivate Garden Party
- Springtime for veggies
- Garden of Manners on First Day of Spring
- Sober Reflection is in Order
- Grow Your Investment
- Consider Massive ‘Manmade Personal Climate Change’
- 2011: The Year of the Vegetable
- “We, The Vegetables”
- “We, The Flowers”
- Garden Of Bargains
- How To Turn Your Castle Into A Home
- Diamond In The Rough
- Green Estate
- Passport To Paradise
- Paging Dr. Green
- Turning Over The Political Soil
- Ode To Green Autumn
Quoted stories
- George Ball on Fast-food Gardening
- Want your kids to eat right? Hand them some seeds
- Plant breeders develop seeds for colorful edibles
- Tomato lovers sound off on heirlooms vs. hybrids
- You Say Tomato. They Say Phony.
- A White House garden that produces more than vegetables
- Economy turns gardening into growth industry
- CUTTINGS; Where Burpee First Tilled
- CUTTINGS; A Test Garden That Does Burpee Proud
- Sew your seeds indoors
- How's your garden grow? $1,000 in veggies for a $100 investment? It's easy.
- A Garden In every Backyard