[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 129 (Monday, September 14, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BALL HOMES

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I read with great interest a recent 
article published in the Lexington Herald-Leader, retracing the 50 
years of hard work that Don and Mira Ball have put into making their 
business the largest provider of new homes in central Kentucky. On top 
of their success in business, Don and Mira should be commended for the 
good work they have done on behalf of their community. They have 
supported several community initiatives, including the Hope Center that 
helps at-risk and homeless individuals get the stability and the help 
they need to improve their lives. I am proud to have joined them in 
support of this and other efforts for the good of everyone in their 
city and surrounding region.
  I know all of my colleagues will join me in recognizing Don and Mira 
for all they have done for the Lexington community, and for 50 years of 
Ball Homes.
  I ask unanimous consent that the full article be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            [From the Lexington Herald-Leader, Aug. 9, 2009]

       Homeseller: Ball Homes Is Celebrating 50 Years in Business

                          (By Melissa Nipper)

       Now Central Kentucky's largest home builder, Ball Homes was 
     incorporated in 1959 by Don and Mira Ball. Today, the company 
     is still family owned and operated by Don and Mira and their 
     three children. Ray Ball is the president, and siblings Mike 
     Ball and Lisa Ball Sharp serve as vice presidents.
       Ball Homes has built thousands of affordable houses in 
     Kentucky neighborhoods over the last five decades. Every year 
     since 1998, BUILDER magazine has named Ball Homes one of the 
     top 100 builders of single-family homes in the nation.
       While the Ball name is usually associated with home 
     building, the family is also deeply ingrained in the 
     community, supporting organizations such as Habitat for 
     Humanity, the Hope Center, Virginia Place and many others. 
     Many of their efforts promote home ownership, helping people 
     overcome obstacles to the American Dream.
       ``We are glad that our children see the value of the family 
     business and that what we do is not just to make a living,'' 
     Mira said. ``We are building affordable homes that people can 
     be proud of. We love this community, all of us do, and I 
     don't think there's a better place to be.''


                          A STRONG FOUNDATION

       Don and Mira met while attending the University of 
     Kentucky. Don was a pre-law student and worked part time 
     distributing brochures for a builder. The couple married in 
     1955 and four years later started their business. They share 
     fond memories of the early days.
       ``I remember when Don had his real estate license, we moved 
     13 times in two and a half years,'' Mira said. ``We would 
     find a house that was marketable, fix it up, sell it and buy 
     a new one. That enabled us to get started. Don used to say 
     that our furniture was on wheels.''
       Ball Homes started targeting the first-time home buyers and 
     over the years evolved into a company that builds for the 
     ``total market,'' Mira said.
       ``I guess the biggest change is, back then we were building 
     houses for $10,950,'' Don said. ``Now the lots cost more than 
     that.''
       One thing that hasn't changed is that Ball Homes has always 
     been a family affair. Don and Mira never pushed the home-
     building business on their children. But from his earliest 
     days, Ray remembers coming to the office with his parents. 
     And of course, there were always summer jobs to be had for 
     the Ball siblings.
       ``I think (the family business) says a lot about the way 
     our parents raised us,'' said Lisa, who focuses on Ball 
     Homes' sales, marketing and customer relations. ``They 
     weren't in any way overpowering, but they gave us moral 
     lessons and giving back to the community was just inherent in 
     the way they live.''


                        A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

       So how does a builder remain successful for five decades--
     throughout a continuously evolving market, constant changes 
     in technology and even during economic downturns and 
     recessions?
       Like all businesses, Ball Homes has had its share of 
     challenges. The toughest time for the company was in the 
     1980's, when mortgage interest rates soared to 22 percent. 
     The family had to develop creative products and financing to 
     weather the hard times. ``And of course, it helped us that 
     that period was a relatively short duration,'' Don said.
       The family has never been afraid to try new ideas and adapt 
     to the marketplace. In the early 1990s, Ball Homes expanded 
     its product line, offering more styles of homes in a wider 
     variety of price ranges.
       They also stretched their base into surrounding communities 
     of Versailles, Paris, Richmond, and Frankfort. The company 
     also builds in Louisville, and in 2008 was ranked 
     Louisville's No. 1 home builder by BUILDER magazine.
       In recent years, the builder has incorporated energy-
     efficient materials and technology into all of its homes. New 
     Ball Homes meet Energy Star qualifications. (The Energy Star 
     designation signifies that a home meets strict energy 
     efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental 
     Protection Agency.)
       ``People may say they don't build (homes) like they used 
     to,'' Mira said. ``Well, today we do so much more with energy 
     efficiency and we build them better than we used to.''
       Ball Homes has several ongoing projects, including the 
     Chilesburg community which features a six-home model village 
     where home buyers can see a variety of floor plans and 
     amenities in one location.
       They recently opened another model home village at their 
     newest development, Glasford. Located in Lexington on the 
     outer loop of Man O' War Boulevard between Tates Creek and 
     Nicholasville roads, Glasford offers 30 floor plans and many 
     luxury options, including beautiful tilework, built-in book 
     cases and crown molding, chair rail and wainscoting packages 
     in formal living and dining rooms.


                            A BRIGHT FUTURE

       Innovative products, careful planning and great employees 
     helped make Ball Homes what it has become over the past 50 
     years. However, Ball family members say their success and 
     future depend on the most important component of their 
     business--the customers, many of whom are living in their 
     second and even third-generation Ball Home.
       ``One of the keys to our success in the environment is that 
     we are recognized as a company that has been here many years, 
     and we will remain here,'' Ray said. ``We just try to take 
     care of the customer and offer a good product in good 
     locations.''

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