Odessan nabs award

Galen Ballard can fix anything. At least that’s what his co-workers believe.

That ability is just one reason Ballard has won the Ronnie Ray ESP Advocate of the year award. As an Education Support Professional, Ballard acts as an example to the other members of the field while in school and out.

Ballard is the maintenance man at Bonham Junior High School. The school was built in the 1950s and needs lots of upkeep and repair. He’s busy working on something in the building every day — and if he has to stay late or come in early or come in on the weekend, he makes sure the students and teachers have heat in the winter, cool air in the summer and everything else they need to keep the cogs of education running smoothly.

Ballard was drafted in the 1970s and saw service in Southeast Asia, Europe, the United States and South America during an 11-year military stint. During Vietnam, he worked to extract and exchange prisoners of war in South Asia. Ballard worked as a sharpshooter on these missions. He thinks this is part of the reason he tries to give back to the community now.

To rescue POWs Ballard said he sometimes had to aim his gun at their captors. His blue eyes look suddenly damp as he talks about it.

"I just feel like, if you’ve been in that situation, if you’ve had to kill people, you’ve got to give something back," Ballard said.

After the army and 12 years in the National Guard, Ballard decided to go back to school. He studied welding, machine technology and computer science. The GI Bill paid part of the way, and he worked as part of a street sweeping crew to pay for the rest. He felt that was the best way to put food on the table and act as an example to his children.

These days Ballard volunteers for various local charities. He believes it is important to give back to the community. He volunteers at The White-Pool House as part of this dedication.

"It’s Odessa history. I’m part of Odessa, so I might as well help preserve it," Ballard said.

Now that he’s won the award, Ballard said he’s looking forward to the ceremony next April, but he’s also nervous.

"I’m one of those people that works best in the shadows," Ballard said.

But he says it’s still nice to have his accomplishments brought into the light.

"Many times in school people think of the teachers and administrators, but people don’t know about what goes on behind the scenes — it takes their effort to keep the schools running," Bonham Junior High principal James Ramage said.

Ballard received glowing letters of recommendation from his principal and Texas State Education Association region 2A president Chuck Isner.

The winner of this award had to be a person who "demonstrates outstanding accomplishments and reflects contributions of ESPs to public education" according to the TSTA. The winner had to demonstrate significant contributions made to their school, their community and their profession.

Isner said that the competition for the award was very tight but Ballard won because of his commitment to excellence in his work.

"I think it’s the quiet leadership that he exhibits in his work ethic and his other associations," Isner said, describing what made Ballard stand apart.

"He’s able to get the job done no matter what’s asked of him," Ramage said.