In Memoriam: Bill Wheaton, former owner of Torrence Reprographics, Charlotte, N.C.

I’m very sad to bring you the news that Bill Wheaton passed away on Saturday, January 7^th, after an unsuccessful bought with pancreatic cancer. R.I.P. My condolences to Bill's family.

I first met Bill, at an IRgA Convention, when he was working for Dietzgen. Several years later, he purchased Torrence Reprographics in Charlotte, NC. Fantastic guy. Bill sold Torrence to ARC in early 2007.

I did not know Bill well, but I have many industry friends who were very close to Bill, and I’m positive that those who had the pleasure of being friends with Bill, would echo the sentiment of an e-mail I received from one of Bill’s former team members at Torrence.

Here’s the e-mail I mentioned above:

Joel,

I have followed your blog almost since it's inception and was fortunate enough to enter the business with the help of the Hackworth's in Va back in 1995 a year after graduating from college. My career then led me to Ridgways, working with Mike Canino, as a sales executive, then finally to Torrence, where I was able to work for a legend in the business, Bill Wheaton. There are very few things in life that you get to experience, that change you as a person truly for the better but being employed by Bill was one of them. Not only did the man have the deepest respect of his peers he was lightyears smarter than most anyone I have ever come across. The reason he enjoyed the business was the same reason as I, it was a family you got to see everyday. He always treated us with so much respect, overpaid us for what we did for the company and brought a since of life, and how the world works style everyday; I had the chance to interact with him.

I recall when ARC came to Charlotte, NC looking for another firm to purchase how Bill first asked the employees if they were interested in buying him out, even offering to finance a good portion of the business. We all passed reluctantly ( as we knew it would not be the same without him) but it showed where is loyalties were.... However, we also got to see what made Bill so smart as a business man and how we could always maximize situations better than anyone, always with a smile..... When we were purchased we had annual sales around 4mill and as i recall and he sold the business for 3.5mil.... One savvy move however was that Bill owned the building right in the heart of the Queen City Downtown and he negotiated the second highest rent per month that ARC paid nationally right behind its Boston location. I recall Bill saying he made more profit after the transaction than he ever did before and locked that price in for a long time thereafter.....again a little tid bit but he was so darn likable you almost give away the farm just to hear the man talk about business and reprographics to anyone who would listen...

I just wanted you to know about him if you did not, and that his passing this Saturday ( of pancreatic cancer) cut short a much deserved retirement but he touched alot of us and I truly give him a lot of credit for making me the man I am today.....

If you could share to all the RSA, IRGA and others who Bill may have known I would be grateful. Having grown up in Holland Michigan and starting his career with FORD, then in Chicago working for DIETZGEN (which opened his eyes to the world of blueprinting) in it's hay day, Bill bought Torrence a few months before Hurricane Hugo hit NC hard....in the late 80's, and never looked back... I admire him and miss him and he truly one of the great ones in the world of reprographics ....

Shawn Dees

In Memoriam: William (Bill) Ballard, former long-time OCE veteran

One of the worst things about getting old is that relatives, friends and former business associates pass away. None of us are eternal.

I deeply regret –and apologize for - not posting an “in memoriam” article about Bill Ballard right after Bill Ballard passed away back in the late spring of this year. Unfortunately, when you are retired from the reprographics industry, which is my situation, you become disconnected from people in the industry.

I attended the Eastern (Regional) Reprographics Association in Hilton Head Island this past weekend, and that’s when I learned – from one of the reprographers attending the convention - that Bill Ballard had passed away. It was very, very sad news and it brought tears to my eyes.

I knew Bill Ballard for many, many years. I can’t even recall the first time I met Bill, it was so long ago. I’m positive that it was back when he was with Bruning. Bill exemplified the term, “concerned, committed vendor.” He was an outstanding guy, always willing to go the extra mile for you/your company. I don’t ever remember seeing Bill without a smile on his face. I don’t think that there’s a reprographer in the Southeastern part of the U.S. who did not know – and have a deep respect and a high regard – for Bill Ballard. He was a “class act.” And that’s an understatement, for sure.

During my second career in the reprographics business – our second company was based in Tampa and had other locations in Florida and in Atlanta – I had quite a bit of contact with Bill, inasmuch as he led OCE’s wide-format division sales managers and sales teams in the Southeastern U.S. I feel very privileged to have known Bill and to have had the opportunity to work with him. Supportive vendors are an essential part of growing a successful reprographics company. Bill played a supportive role in the growth of our company, NGI. Bill, thank you for that, and may you R.I.P.

My belated condolences to the family of William (Bill) Ballard.

Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on March 26, 2011

William Ballard

William Richard Ballard - 69, resident of Tucker Georgia, died from complications of cancer Wednesday night March 23, 2011. He was born July 7, 1941 in Atlanta, GA and was the second of four children of Dolly J. Ballard and A. Brooke Ballard. Bill graduated from Fulton High School and attended Georgia Tech while working for Southern Bell. He served in United States Coast Guard reserves and trained with the United States Navy Special Forces. His experience in the service helped focus his drive and impacted his life as he often remembered what one of his Drill Sergeant's told him ..."if you want to be special you have to do special things." Bill's life exemplified this as he was driven to be special in everything he did. Bill was a member of Briarlake Baptist Church where he led the singing for the Business Men's Bible Class. He felt very close to the members of his class and loved fellowship with them. Bill was also an avid golfer and always challenged himself. He was a member at Berkeley Hills Country Club and played in many tournaments around the state including the Georgia Amateur ... it is often said that the game of golf reveals a person's character Ö Bill was a man of character and integrity and everyone who spent time with him saw it and felt it ... you also knew that he genuinely wanted the best for you and from you. The experience in the service, his faith in God and the game of golf served as the foundation for his life and helped him achieve special things. He was a person that you could believe in and count on ... you knew that you could trust what he said and knew that he would follow through. Bill served in his best role as Granddaddy and loved to spend time with all his grandchildren fishing and going to the beach. Bill started his professional career as a Sales Rep with the Charles Bruning Company in Atlanta and earned top honors year after year. Over the years the company was purchased by A. M. International and then finally Océ North America. Océ tried to hire him many times and it was said that they actually bought AM International to finally get him to work for them. Bill was the Atlanta Branch Manager and then the Executive Director of the Southern Region for Océ. Through his career he and his team continued to perform as he expected special things from everyone ... Bill and his team rose to the challenge and was the top region in the company for many years. After more than 46 years of service Bill finished his career with Océ in 2009. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Betty Armistead Ballard and his two sons, William R. Ballard, II of Duluth, GA, and Brockwell Jackson Ballard of Satellite Beach, Florida, two loving daughters-in-law: Barbara Schaaf Ballard and Amy Parker Ballard, one grandson: Thomas Jackson Ballard and five granddaughters: Lucy Madison Ballard, Sarah Elizabeth Ballard, Audrey Grace Ballard, Natalie Claire Ballard and Emma Catherine Ballard, his mother, Dolly Jackson Ballard, Sister Jeannie Ballard Wright, Brother Mark Otis Ballard and many nieces and nephews. His father Arthur Brooke Ballard, Sr. and brother Arthur Brooke Ballard, Jr. predeceased him. Visitation will be at Patterson's Oglethorpe, 4550 Peachtree Road N. E. Atlanta, GA. 30319, Sunday Evening, March, 27, 2011 from 5:30 P M until 8:30 P M. The Funeral will be at Briarlake Baptist Church at 11:00 A M with visitation before the service from 10:00 until 11:00 A. M. 3715 La Vista Road, Decatur, GA 30033. Interment: Melwood Cemetery, 5170 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Stone Mountain GA. In lieu of flowers please make donations to American Cancer Society in his honor. Phone: 1.800.227.2345 Mail: P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, email www.cancer.org