Recent Syndics: Riley Russell Ballard

( June 4, 1944-1976 )

Riley Russell Ballard was an very friendly, kind, and wise, multi-level genius who lived with a serious heart condition. He could learn anything from organic chemistry to conversational French just by looking at a book. He spent his life in the Greater Philadelphia, PA area, Cape May, NJ, Chautauqua, NY, and travelling in Ireland.

Because of his health, he was partly supported by his parents and also worked varying hours a week At Hastings Books at 13th & Market Streets in Philadelphia, PA, which was notorious for being both a radical and gay oriented bookstore and meeting place.

Ballard could easily be included in the top one percent of the greatest 20th century mystical, philosophic, and lyrical poets, and besides constantly writing and producing wonderful astonishing poster art, he taught talented people in private classes at his apartment, whether they could pay him a gratuity or not.

Many people thought he was the reincarnation of the French poet, Paul Verlaine (3/30/1844 -1/8/1896), and this was emphasized by his personal focus on "knowing the reincarnation" of Arthur Rimbaud.

In his quiet, humourous way, Ballard was a major influence in the Philadelphia cultural Renaissance from 1957 through 1968. His life’s energies’ push created a huge widening in creating connections with various cultural, philosophic, artistic influences, and with radicalizing daily social awareness.