Robert Ballard Signed Patent Pages of His Heated Car Seat/Also 1937 Derby Champ!

Description

Signed Collectible
1937 All-American and World Soap Box Derby Champion Robert Ballard, Inventor of the Heated Car Seat.
Mr. Ballard, 95 years young, in addition to being responsible for keeping your bum warm in your car on winter days, is the oldest surviving Soap Box Derby U.S. & World Champion (1937)!
.00 of each collectible purchase will be given to the International Soap Box Derby in Akron during this unsettling virus pandemic time.
Mr. Ballard, who lives in St. Louis, says that these are uncertain times, especially for the boys and girls who wanted to compete this summer.
“I know how much the Derby meant to me and my education.
I can’t imagine young people not being able to enjoy their sport this summer.
I hope they still can.”
Dimensions:  8 1/2 x 11
Condition: new (Reproduction Patent Pages; Autograph is Original)
Shipped by First Class Mail with Tracking
Article courtesy the International Soap Derby in Akron.
Join and support the Derby today!
Go to Soapboxderby.org.
DERBY SPOTLIGHT - BOB BALLARD
08.24.2017
Derby Spotlight – Bob Ballard
Bob Ballard was born to be an engineer. The moment he set foot on the Derby track his fate was aligned. Even at a young age, Bob found that building, designing, testing and engineering Soap Box Derby cars intrigued him. His racing lead him to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering; a second degree in electrical engineering would soon follow.
In addition to participating in the Soap Box Derby, he was a Boy Scout and earned the honor of Eagle Scout in 1938. Bob participated in Boy Scouts from age 12 and continued his participation until college. In college, he was a Vice President of his fraternity, ATO. Since he was interested in design and robotics from an early age, the choice to become an engineer was simple.
If we take a step back, Bob Ballard began Derby racing in 1937 in Local White Plains, New York. Apart from winning the 1937 Local World Race, rolling down the hill was his most memorable detail of the Derby. Other than Bob, his brother also participated in the Soap Box Derby in 1939 where he came in second place. Their father was a huge support and influence during their years of involvement in the Derby. If it wasn’t for him, Bob mentioned, he would not have won. It was a building experience, literally, between father and son—the chance to build something together lead to something far greater in Bob’s future. Furthermore, the Debry also taught Bob vast communication skills so he could become confident speaking with people of all ages. Communication, if anything, is the most important skill when entering the workforce. Becoming a celebrity of sorts through his knowledge and experience of the Derby was exciting for Bob; his hope is that more publicity surrounds the Derby in the future.
Looking at Bob’s professional career as an engineer, he was a draftsman for General Motors where he worked at styling new cars. His career included working on hood ornaments, interiors and headlights for Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Pontiac vehicles. This was especially exciting for Bob since he had access to the car studios meaning he was up-to-date on all the new car designs coming out. Bob has 5 children and currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri. Even though Bob is retired, we hope his story inspires other youth to pursue an exciting career in a fast-growing STEM field.