James Ballard, former director of the Engineering Communication Center, 79

James “Jim” Clark Ballard, former senior lecturer and director of the Engineering Communication Center in the McKelvey School of Engineering, died Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in St. Louis following a sudden cardiac arrest. He was 79. 

Ballard retired June 1, 2024, after teaching technical writing to thousands of engineering students over 54 years with the university. He began his WashU career in 1970 as a doctoral student in the Department of English in Arts & Sciences, then joined the Engineering school in 1974 after a conversation with James M. McKelvey Sr., who was dean from 1964-1991. The Engineering school was looking for someone to teach its students writing. Ballard designed a syllabus for an undergraduate course in technical writing — a fairly new term at the time — and got a trial semester. The trial technical writing course, which is still taught today through the Division of Engineering Education, has helped students think more analytically and write more clearly.

Ballard also created and taught the Engineering Practice and Professional Values course, a precursor to Engineering Ethics and Sustainability, and developed a graduate course in Engineering Communications. In all, he taught more than 45 uninterrupted years.

“Jim Ballard’s wisdom, wit and kindness shaped the Engineering Communication Center into a unique and collaborative teaching environment, and he will be dearly missed,” said Jay Turner, the James McKelvey Professor of Engineering Education, head of the Division of Engineering Education and vice dean for education. “His helpful coaching, careful reading and editing skills were unmatched.”

While teaching, Ballard founded the original Technical Writing Center in 1994, now known as the Engineering Communication Center (ECC). In Ballard’s honor, the ECC created The James C. Ballard Excellence in Technical Communication Award, which will be the top prize in the annual technical writing competition.

“He supported the faculty, inspired his students and entertained us as he edited our work,” said Sandra Matteucci, senior lecturer in the Engineering Communications Center. “His humble spirit could not fathom his lasting legacy. We all have benefited greatly from his influence.”

In the last decade at WashU and after his retirement, Ballard provided writing consultations and assisted students and faculty with publications and grant applications.

Outside of WashU, Ballard enjoyed reading about technology and the humanities, restoring his 116-year-old home, woodworking and could fix almost anything, his wife, Linda Ballard, said.

Ballard is survived by his wife, Linda; his son, Thomas Vance Ballard (Lindsay Ballard); grandsons Zachary and Elliot Ballard; and sister Betsy (Gary) Murray.

No service is planned. The family asks that in his honor, teach someone something new.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union, Arch City Defenders or the charity of one’s choice.