WILLIAM S. BALLENGER SR - b. Cambridge City, Indiana, December 5, 1866. His early education was in the public schools. At age eleven he began work in a grocery store, alternating work and study until graduation from high school. He worked at bookkeeping for two years before going to Oswego, New York, where he learned shorthand and took business courses. Ballenger came to Flint in February 1888, and was hired as a bookkeeper and stenographer by the Flint Wagon Works. Later, he became an officer in the company and was one of those who signed the bank loan to bring Buick to Flint from Jackson, Michigan in 1905. He was elected secretary - treasurer of Buick until General Motors purchased the firm in 1908. He was secretary-treasurer of Little Motor Car Company and Chevrolet when the latter absorbed the former. In 1935 he donated land for two city parks and (Ballenger and Memorial Parks) was active in local civic and charitable organizations. d. Flint, Michigan, February 28, 1951.