Gary Telford Softball Field

Gary Telford Field was named after former Ballard athletic director and softball coach, Gary Telford.  

His first teaching position after graduation was at Lake City, where he taught science.  He worked at the Ballard Community School District from 1979 to 1999, where he coached softball and held the position of Athletic Director.  He was Athletic Director at Indianola High School from 1999 to 2002.  At Ankeny Community School, he was the Activities Director from 2002 to 2011.

Gary remained busy even in retirement—substitute teaching, starting track meets, ushering at Hilton Coliseum, working at the Iowa Hall of Pride, and traveling to visit friends.  His last job was coaching the eighth grade girls' softball team at Ballard.

Gary was inducted into the Iowa Softball Coaches Hall of Fame; received the Iowa High School Speech Association Administrator of the Year Award (the only athletic director to ever receive the award); Iowa Official of the Year for Cross Country and Track; Iowa High School Activities Director of the Year; inducted into the Ankeny High School Coaches Hall of fame; a long-time starter for the State Co-Ed Cross Country meet; and served two five-year terms on the Board of Directors for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Bud Legg, Director of Information at the Iowa High School Athletic Association, said, "Gary led three superlative activity programs at three very different sized schools. He never sought out recognition or awards for his works, but he was recognized by others for his dedication to students and the activities there were participated in during his career." 

Gary passed away June 19, 2014 at 61 years of age.