 Phillip Roy Ball was born October 19, 1925 to Frank C. and Sara Nee Allen Ball. He attended grade school in the West Point community southwest of Yukon, Oklahoma. He then attended Yukon High School, where he was very active in athletics and drama, graduating in 1943. He enlisted before graduation and was inducted in the U.S. Navy immediately thereafter. He was in the V-12 and NROTC Officers' Training Program and was commissioned in 1945. His service duty included submarine patrol, light cruiser gunnery officer and landing craft. He married his high school sweetheart, Lois Virginia Gramkow, on the day of his commissioning.
Following discharge from the Navy, he returned to the University of South Carolina, where he received B.S., B.A. and M.ED degrees with ODK honor. He played six years of college football counting his time in the service and received All-Conference and All-American recognition while playing. He and Lois had two children, Donna and Keith. The family returned to Oklahoma and Phil began a 15 year career as a high school coach and mathematics teacher. He had very successful teams at Wewoka, Walters, Seminole and Muskogee High Schools. He coached two State Championship football teams, had numerous all-state athletes and many who became college athletes. He was an outstanding advanced math teacher and was twice selected to represent Oklahoma high schools in Summer Math Institutes. In 1964, Phil became the head football coach at Central State College (now University of Central Oklahoma) and coached through the 1976 season. During that time he coached 26 players who made All-American one or more times and three players who were NFL draft choices, as well as three players being later named Distinguished Former Students at UCO. He taught in the Health and Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Department. Upon retiring from coaching, he completed his Doctoral degree at Oklahoma State University. He taught until his retirement in 1993, specializing in Exercise Physiology and Coaching Preparation.
He was an active church member throughout his life and a member of the Edmond First Methodist Church since 1964. During those years he was a teacher of the Fellowship Class and was at one time President of the Wesley Foundation Board. Phil was a long time member of the Edmond Lions Club and twice was President. He also was active in the Friendship Force and ORCTC travel clubs because he and his wife enjoyed traveling abroad and hosting international visitors to Oklahoma. Other hobbies included bridge, reading and current issues. Coaching honors included being selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame, High School Coach of the Year, and Collegiate Conference Coach of the ,Year. He served as President of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Football Coaches and was a presenter at various coaching clinics. In his teaching field, he served as President of OAHPERD and was selected to its Hall of Honor and served on several Southern District OAHPERD committees. Following retirement he devoted time and energy to volunteer work including the ERMC Hospital Auxiliary, Mobile Meals, Breakfast on Boulevard and the Coffee Creek Riding Academy. He was extremely proud of his and Lois' children and grandchildren and was devoted to this immediate and extended family.
Phil was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lois of 62 years, his father and mother, all his aunts and uncles and brother Dick Ball. He is survived by his daughter, Donna Hirst of Iowa City, IA, son Keith Ball and wife Marti Jourden of Oklahoma City, grandchildren Matthew Hirst and wife Morgan of Austin, TX and Amy Hirst of Iowa City, IA, sister Eileen Belcher and husband Tom of Tulsa, sister, Marjorie Moesel of Oklahoma City, sister, Ruth Harvill of Yukon, sister-in-law, Civilla Ball of Yukon, sister-in-law, Norma Gallien and husband Henry of Mobile, AL, and numerous nephews and nieces. Memorials may be made to the Phil Ball Scholarships UCO Foundation, Edmond Mobile Meals or charity of one's choice. Memorial Services will be held 11:00 AM, on Saturday, November 22, 2008, at Edmond First United Methodist Church of Edmond, 305 E. Hurd Street, Edmond, OK. Services under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home.
Published in The Oklahoman on 11/19/2008
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