Industry Mourns SC&RA’s Doug Ball

(March 24, 2021) - Doug Ball, former SC&RA vice president of transportation, passed away unexpectedly March 16 from a stroke. He joined the U.S. Army after graduating with ROTC from the University of Montana. After serving in Vietnam as a company commander, he joined the FBI as a special agent and retired as the director of the National Drug Intelligence Center. He retired in 1995 and went on to a second career as the vice president of transportation at SC&RA, retiring in 2014 after more than 13 years. During his stint at SC&RA, Ball advanced SC&RA’s agenda on a host of transportation and permitting issues including: increased limits on tridems and trunnions; increased night-time and weekend travel allowances; increased 46,000 lb. tandem weight limits in multiple states; and better port access and egress for members. He worked with NTSB, FMCSA, and other industry partners to respond to an NTSB recommendation on improving pilot car operations through improved training and communications.  This work was the real start for SC&RA’s more aggressive position of helping to improve pilot car operations and communications between the motor carriers/drivers and pilot car operators. Most importantly, Ball focused his life first on family, but brought a sense of humor, levity and personality to industry events and had a profound impact on those with whom he worked. He will be sadly missed.

He is survived by his wife Janet and their two daughters, Tasha Virostek, and Allison Ball, and his four grandchildren: Angela Dugan, Meghan Virostek, Luke Virostek, and Michelle Virostek. He is predeceased by his grandson, Jeffrey Virostek. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor the memory of Doug, the family requests that donations be made to the Jeffrey Virostek Fund. Due to COVID restrictions, a private funeral service will be held in his memory for his family only.