Emanuel Ballard - San Antonio, TX
N 29° 30.354 W 098° 30.237
14R E 548078 N 3264139
A new variety of Maple tree was used to honor Emanuel A. Ballard (commonly known as Manny) who had been very active with international missionary work and other outreach programs within the Catholic churches where he worshipped throughout his life.
Waymark Code: WM12V1A
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 07/16/2020
Views: 1
The tree dedicated to the honor of Emanuel A Ballard is fittingly an unusual choice for a tree in Texas. It matches well with the unusual life that Manny Ballard, as he was known by his family and friends. In his prime of life, he served for 25 years as a member of The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, TX. There he helped establish the Catholic Stewardship Program. Manny Ballard also went on to inaugurate the Catholic Marriage Encounter Program in Texas, Mexico, in parts of Latin America, and in Africa. He served as Director of Oblate Missions, in support of Oblate Missionary work throughout the world.
The tree chosen to be dedicated to him is a recently developed species of Maple. It is a Shantung Maple tree, nicknamed the "Fire Dragon" tree because it can withstand the heat and drought often characteristic of Texas. Its official scientific tree name is Acer Truncatum. In the Spring as new leaves form, the buds come out red before turning green. In the Fall, its large Maple-shaped leaves change color to shads of yellow, orange or purple as the weather changes from hot to colder. It is fitting that a man like Manny Ballard, who had such a vision for transforming Catholic mission outreach, would have such a visually transforming tree dedicated to him!
This Shantung Maple tree is found in the central part of the campus of the Oblate School of Theology. It is the tree closest to the sidewalk along which the Stations of the Cross are placed. The sidewalk forks a little past the large bronze wall monument to the Oblate Missionary horsemen. The fork in the sidewalk pathway is also between the Stations of the Cross #3 and #4. There is a gray granite memorial stone placed at the base of the tree. The dedicatory text on the rectangular granite stone reads as follows:
"In loving memory of
Emanuel Ballard
who inspired Faith, Hope, and Love
in everyone he met
1932 - 2008"
Visitors to the Oblate campus are welcomed to park in the large parking lot found off Mt. Sacred Heart Rd., one street north of Oblate Dr. From the parking lot, walk toward the center of the campus, past the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine, past the Oblate Lourdes Grotto and on toward the large bronze monument to the Oblate missionaries. Just past the missionary monument, is the place where the sidewalk forks and where this tree is found. Look for the tree with the large leaves that looks like a Maple tree. In the Fall, when the brief change of seasons occurs, you should be able to see the colors change on this tree knows as the Fire Dragon. For Texas, this tree should become a visual palate of color.
Link to obituary of Manuel A Ballard:
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Link about the Shantung Maple "Fire Dragon" tree used for the dedicated tree:
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