William E. Ballou

William Eugene Ballou, B.A. ’60, was born on April 8, 1939, in Sterling City, TX, and passed away on Aug. 30, 2025. Called to ministry in high school, he dedicated his life to gospel service. He graduated from Boyd High School in McKinney, TX, earned a bachelor’s from Baylor in 1960 and earned a Master of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1963. That same year, he was ordained by First Baptist Church, McKinney. In 1961, he married Avonnell Bolton, B.A. ’61, whom he met at Baylor.

Ballou served churches in Georgia and Mississippi before holding key ministry positions in Fort Worth, Amarillo and Abilene. Following retirement in 2005, he and Avonnell moved to Tyler, TX, where they remained active in church life. After Avonnell’s passing in 2013, Ballou returned to pastoral ministry at Grace Baptist Church near Edom, TX.

A devoted Baylor alumnus, Ballou expressed gratitude to Baylor for his education and for meeting Avonnell. He was a life member of the Baylor Alumni Association, a member of the Baylor Development Council and founder of the endowed Avonnell Bolton Ballou Memorial Scholarship in the School of Education. He received the Milton T. Gregory Distinguished Service Award in 2002 and an honorary degree from Truett Seminary in 2007.

Beyond the local church, Ballou served as moderator of three Baptist Associations, vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and a frequent leader at conferences nationwide and abroad. He also preached revivals in multiple states and in New Zealand. In retirement, he and Avonnell led numerous group tours, including trips to Alaska and the Oberammergau Passion Play. His greatest joy was in sharing the message of salvation through John 3:16 and John 14:6.