Just got word that Randy Ballard passed away on the 12th of this month. There will be a service on August 19th at 11:00 at Sunset Funeral Home 11005 N. US Highway Thonotosassa and a funeral service and graveside afterwards.
I met Randy around 1965 because he went to miles elementary school and in those days I attended most holy redeemer catholic school nearby. as we both lived in the secter around fowler, fletcher and florida avenues we had the forrest hills community center on 109th, lake caroll and lake ellen beaches in common. And because of that very convenient proximity, we were also skyway drive-in bandits. as i remember it, Randys older brother, doug, along with timmy jones (kennys older brother) and my older brother ray were part of the crew who a year or two earlier actually ran a sound wire from one of skyways speakers at the end of an aisle under the shell/gravel road to a point just outside the fence and the front seat torn out of a buick or something. It was pretty cool while it lasted.
i did not see him for a number of years but when my office was in downtown tampa and he was with TECO in that area, I saw him all the time. I dont know what happened to Randy, I wished he was still around. He never really changed very much and seemed to be a salt of the earth type person.
Donald Rhode
I met Randy around 1965 because he went to miles elementary school and in those days I attended most holy redeemer catholic school nearby. as we both lived in the secter around fowler, fletcher and florida avenues we had the forrest hills community center on 109th, lake caroll and lake ellen beaches in common. And because of that very convenient proximity, we were also skyway drive-in bandits. as i remember it, Randys older brother, doug, along with timmy jones (kennys older brother) and my older brother ray were part of the crew who a year or two earlier actually ran a sound wire from one of skyways speakers at the end of an aisle under the shell/gravel road to a point just outside the fence and the front seat torn out of a buick or something. It was pretty cool while it lasted.
i did not see him for a number of years but when my office was in downtown tampa and he was with TECO in that area, I saw him all the time. I dont know what happened to Randy, I wished he was still around. He never really changed very much and seemed to be a salt of the earth type person.