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George Ball (American businessman)

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George Carl Ball Jr. is an American seedsman who has served as chairman of W. Atlee Burpee Company since 1991.[1]

Background and Career

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 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—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).[1]

George Ball also participated in numerous seed relief efforts.[2] In February 2004, he contributed to what can 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.[3]

He gave the 2007 commencement speech at the Orme School.[4]

Under George Ball's direction in 2016, W. Atlee Burpee Company and the Burpee Foundation provided a $2.5 million gift to permanently preserve and maintain the White House Kitchen Garden installed by First Lady Michelle Obama. In a statement announcing the initiative, Ball stated, "Everyone at Burpee is proud of the First Lady’s ‘Can-Do!’ attitude and we hope that a well-conceived long-lasting version of The White House Kitchen Garden will be fully supported by ensuing Administrations for so long as The White House serves as the residence for The President of the United States."[5][6]

Awards and Recognition

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.

In 2016, George Ball was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa from Delaware Valley University in recognition of his outstanding professional accomplishments and community outreach.

In 2023, Mr. Ball was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from his alma mater, Bard College—"His ability to see beyond what others might see makes George Ball a visionary who continues to nurture innovation in the horticultural world."

Politics

Despite his notable collaboration with the Obama White House on the White House Kitchen Garden, George Ball is a long time financial contributor to the Republican Party and its candidates, including those widely considered to be on the far right of the political spectrum such as Joe Kent[7] and Richard Mourdock.[8] Ball contributed a total of $8,100 ($2,700 above the legal maximum at the time) to the Ted Cruz campaign during the 2016 Republican primaries.[9] Later that year, Ball contributed a total of $400,000 to Trump Victory, joint fundraising committee of the Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee.[10] In 2020, Ball's contributions included a total of $200,000 to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC supporting GOP candidates for the United States Senate.[11] In 2022, Ball contributed $250,000 to American Leadership Action, a super PAC supporting Mehmet Oz's campaign for US Senate.[12] In 2024, he contributed a total of $100,000 to the Trump 47 Committee, joint fundraising committee of the Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee.[13]

Published works

George Ball's opinion articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Chronicle, and many other newspapers:

Quoted stories

References

  1. About George Ball - Burpee Chairman and CEO. Burpee, retrieved February 10, 2011
  2. News (2011-02-14). Burpee Foundation Donates To Urban Farming. Greenhouse Grower, retrieved March 5, 2011 Archived February 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Eileen P. Gunn (2002-03-31). Grass-roots Business; Gone to Seed And Back, Again. The New York Times, retrieved March 5, 2011
  4. Commencement Address 2007 by Mr. George C. Ball, Jr. '69. The Orme School, retrieved March 5, 2011 Archived July 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Burpee Funds White House Kitchen Garden". PR Newswire. W Atlee Burpee Company. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  6. "$2.5 Million Donation Preserves White House Kitchen Garden". nationalparks.org. National Park Foundation. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  7. "KEEP ELECTING NEW TALENT (KENT) PAC Itemized Receipts". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  8. "Page by Page Report Display". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  9. "Cruz for President Itemized Receipts". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  10. "TRUMP VICTORY Itemized Receipts". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  11. "Senate Leadership Fund Itemized Receipts". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  12. "AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ACTION Itemized Receipts". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  13. "TRUMP 47 COMMITTEE INC. Itemized Receipts". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved 12 June 2026.