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{{short description|American entrepreneur and inventor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = George Ballas
| name = George Ballas
| birth_name = George Charles Ballass
| birth_name = George Charles Ballas
| birth_date = {{birth date|1925|6|28}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1925|6|28}}
| birth_place = [[Ruston, Louisiana]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Ruston, Louisiana]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|6|25|1925|6|28}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|6|25|1925|6|28}}
| death_place = [[Houston]], [[Texas]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Houston]], Texas, U.S.
| death_cause = [[Lung cancer]]
| occupation = Entrepreneur
| occupation = Entrepreneur
| nationality = American
| nationality =
⚫
| spouse = {{marriage|Maria Marulanda|1951}}
| children = [[Corky Ballas]]<br>George Ballas Jr.<br>Michelle Ballas Pritchard<br>Maria Ballas Jamail<br>Lillian Ballas Miles-- Chris Urgiles
| children = 5, including [[Corky Ballas]]
| relatives = [[Mark Ballas]] (grandson)<br>Peter Ballas (brother)
| parents = Charles Ballas<br>Maria Lymnaos Ballas
| relatives = [[Mark Ballas]] (grandson)
⚫
| known_for = Founder of [[Weed Eater]]
⚫
| spouse = Maria Marulanda (1951-2011, his death)
⚫
| known_for = Inventor of [[Weed Eater]]
| module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| nickname =
| nickname =
Line 22: Line 22:
| servicenumber =
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| unit =
| commands = Bombardier
| commands = Bombardier and Second Lt. and OSI Agent
| battles = [[World War II]]<br>[[Korean War]]
| battles = [[World War II]]<br />[[Korean War]]
| battles_label =
| battles_label =
| awards =
| awards =
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}}
}}
}}
}}
'''George Charles Ballas Sr.''' (June 28, 1925 – June 25, 2011) was an [[United States|American]] [[entrepreneur]]. He invented the first [[string trimmer]], known as the [[Weed Eater]] in 1971.<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/business/02ballas.html?ref=deathsobituaries|title=George Ballas, Inventor of the Weed Whacker, Dies at 85|date=July 1, 2011|author=Dennis Hevesi|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He is the father of ballroom dancer, [[Corky Ballas]], and grandfather of professional dancer [[Mark Ballas]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/george-ballas-dies-weed-eater-inventor-was-85/2011/07/03/AGCX5kwH_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage|title=George Ballas dies; Weed Eater Inventor Was 85|date=July 1, 2011|author=Valerie J. Nelson|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>
'''George Charles Ballas Sr.''' (June 28, 1925 – June 25, 2011) was an American [[entrepreneur]]. He invented the first [[string trimmer]], known as the [[Weed Eater]] in 1971.<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/business/02ballas.html?ref=deathsobituaries|title=George Ballas, Inventor of the Weed Whacker, Dies at 85|date=July 1, 2011|author=Dennis Hevesi|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He was the father of ballroom dancer, [[Corky Ballas]], and grandfather of professional dancer [[Mark Ballas]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/george-ballas-dies-weed-eater-inventor-was-85/2011/07/03/AGCX5kwH_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage|title=George Ballas dies; Weed Eater Inventor Was 85|date=July 1, 2011|author=Valerie J. Nelson|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Ballas was born in [[Ruston, Louisiana]]. He was the son of Charles Ballas and Maria (née Lymnaos), who were [[Greeks|Greek]] immigrants that ran a restaurant.<ref>http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/03/local/la-me-george-ballas-20110703</ref> His brother is Peter Ballas.
Ballas was born in [[Ruston, Louisiana]]. He was the son of Karolos ("Charles") Ballas and Maria (née Lymnaios), who were [[Greeks|Greek]] immigrants that ran a restaurant.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jul-03-la-me-george-ballas-20110703-story.html| archive-url = https://archive.today/20140210175833/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/03/local/la-me-george-ballas-20110703| url-status = live| archive-date = February 10, 2014| title = Archives - Los Angeles Times| website = [[Los Angeles Times]]| date = July 3, 2011}} </ref> His brother is Peter Ballas.


He enlisted in the [[United States Army]] at the age of 17 in 1942 during [[World War II]] and was a bombardier.<ref name="nytimes"/> Ballas would later serve in the [[Korean War]].
He enlisted in the [[United States Army]] at the age of 17 in 1942 during [[World War II]] and was a bombardier.<ref name="nytimes"/> Ballas would later serve in the [[Korean War]].


==Family==
==Family==
He married Maria Marulanda in 1951.
He married Maria Marulanda who was of [[Mexicans|Mexican]] and [[Spaniards|Spanish]] descent in 1951.


He had five children, [[Corky Ballas]], George Ballas Jr., Michelle Ballas Pritchard, Maria Ballas Jamail, and Lillian Ballas Miles.
He had five children, including [[Corky Ballas]].


His grandson [[Mark Ballas]] is a dancer in ''[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]''. He had six other grandchildren.
His grandson [[Mark Ballas]] is a dancer in ''[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]''. He had six other grandchildren.


==Inventor==
==Inventor==
Ballas got the idea for the trimmer while driving through an [[Car wash#Automatic car wash|automatic car wash]], where the rotating brushes gave him an idea. Using a tin can laced with fishing line and an [[edge trimmer]], he tried out his idea, which worked. After some refinements, he shopped it around to several tool makers, who all rejected his invention. He went on to develop the garden tool himself. The first year, sales were over a half million [[United States dollar|dollars]]. By 1977 they were $80 million, and Ballas sold his company the following year to [[Emerson Electric Company]].<ref>[http://www.honoraryunsubscribe.com/george_ballas.html George Ballas -- an Honorary Unsubscribe] from the ''[[This is True]]'' Honorary Unsubscribe website</ref>
Ballas got the idea for the trimmer while driving through an [[Car wash#Automatic car wash|automatic car wash]], where the rotating brushes gave him an idea. Using a tin can laced with fishing line and an [[edge trimmer]], he tried out his idea, which worked. After some refinements, he shopped it around to several tool makers, who all rejected his invention. He went on to develop the garden tool himself. The first year, sales were over a half million [[United States dollar|dollars]]. By 1977 they were $80 million, and Ballas sold his company the following year to [[Emerson Electric Company]].<ref>[http://www.honoraryunsubscribe.com/george_ballas.html George Ballas -- an Honorary Unsubscribe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123225533/http://www.honoraryunsubscribe.com/george_ballas.html |date=January 23, 2018 }} from the ''[[This is True]]'' Honorary Unsubscribe website</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballas, George}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballas, George}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:American inventors]]
[[Category:20th-century American inventors]]
[[Category:American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century Greek Americans]]
[[Category:American people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Houston]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Texas]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Houston]]
[[Category:People from Houston]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:American military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Ballas family]]

Latest revision as of 20:53, 17 October 2024

George Ballas
Born
George Charles Ballas

(1925-06-28)June 28, 1925
Ruston, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedJune 25, 2011(2011-06-25) (aged 85)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
OccupationEntrepreneur
Known forFounder of Weed Eater
Spouse
Maria Marulanda
​
(m. 1951)​
Children5, including Corky Ballas
RelativesMark Ballas (grandson)
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1942–1953
CommandsBombardier and Second Lt. and OSI Agent
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War

George Charles Ballas Sr. (June 28, 1925 – June 25, 2011) was an American entrepreneur. He invented the first string trimmer, known as the Weed Eater in 1971.[1] He was the father of ballroom dancer, Corky Ballas, and grandfather of professional dancer Mark Ballas of Dancing with the Stars.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Ballas was born in Ruston, Louisiana. He was the son of Karolos ("Charles") Ballas and Maria (née Lymnaios), who were Greek immigrants that ran a restaurant.[3] His brother is Peter Ballas.

He enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17 in 1942 during World War II and was a bombardier.[1] Ballas would later serve in the Korean War.

Family

[edit]

He married Maria Marulanda who was of Mexican and Spanish descent in 1951.

He had five children, including Corky Ballas.

His grandson Mark Ballas is a dancer in Dancing with the Stars. He had six other grandchildren.

Inventor

[edit]

Ballas got the idea for the trimmer while driving through an automatic car wash, where the rotating brushes gave him an idea. Using a tin can laced with fishing line and an edge trimmer, he tried out his idea, which worked. After some refinements, he shopped it around to several tool makers, who all rejected his invention. He went on to develop the garden tool himself. The first year, sales were over a half million dollars. By 1977 they were $80 million, and Ballas sold his company the following year to Emerson Electric Company.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Dennis Hevesi (July 1, 2011). "George Ballas, Inventor of the Weed Whacker, Dies at 85". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Valerie J. Nelson (July 1, 2011). "George Ballas dies; Weed Eater Inventor Was 85". The Washington Post.
  3. ^ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. July 3, 2011. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014.
  4. ^ George Ballas -- an Honorary Unsubscribe Archived January 23, 2018, at the Wayback Machine from the This is True Honorary Unsubscribe website
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