Major General Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball, Jr., MD & Patricia Mengedoht Ball

Often referred as a “Renaissance Man” who could have chosen any number of career paths to follow, Pre Ball was that rare individual who rose to the top of any organization in which he was involved.

Talented, gregarious and hardworking, Pre rose to the rank of Company Commander at The Citadel in Charleston, followed by medical school, acceptance into the prestigious AOA Medical Honor Society, and later into a competitive Urology residency program at Emory Medical School in Atlanta.

Dr. Ball quickly rose in rank during his 33 years in the United States Air Force. A board-certified surgeon in Urology, he was also a flight surgeon with more than 850 flying hours, and an experienced commercial instrument pilot.

An exemplary physician, Pre served as Chief of Urology at several major military medical hospitals, commanded the Manpower Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, directed the Office of Inspection and Safety at Norton AFB, and was Hospital Commander at Malcolm Grow Hospital, Andrews AFB.

The Air Force tapped him for his first star upon selection as Hospital Commander of Wilford Hall Medical Center, the Air Force’s largest medical center. His second star came with his promotion to Commander of the Joint Military Medical Command, which oversaw medical operations for all military branches within Texas.

In addition to his medical and military responsibilities, Pre was Editor in Chief of the American Urological Association Continuing Education Update Series, Program Chairman for the American College of Surgeons, and a member of many national and international organizations. Pre and Patty loved the years they spent traveling to meet, teach and learn with friends and colleagues from all over the world.

Pre met the love his life, Patricia Anne Mengedoht, while she was a student at the College of Charleston. As Pre tells the story, he looked out the window of his barracks at the Citadel and saw a cute girl out on the parade grounds with his friend and fellow classmate, Dan Mengedoht. Mischievous in nature, Pre thought it would be funny to “go snake on him”. As it turns out, Dan was more than happy to be free from Patty, who happened to be his “kid sister”. So— according to Pre— “Dan took Patty’s hand, placed it inside mine, and said ‘she’s yours!”

The two were an instant item. They married in 1954, straight out of college, and had their first daughter, Teresa, a year later. Tricia and Liz followed in quick succession. A five-year gap allowed Dad time to try for that elusive son, which to his delight, he finally got….an early birthday present…in January of 1964.

Although short in stature, Pre never shied away from competing in sports… football in high school, and in college, boxing and competitive springboard diving, a sport two of his grandsons would later compete.

Pre had a strong artistic side to him. He sang in a barbershop quartet called “Sweet Adenoids” which performed around Europe. He taught himself to play popular music tunes on the piano, which he enjoyed even after losing his eyesight. Numerous water color images painted by Pre adorn the walls of the Ball home, and at one point he even learned to carve exquisite animal figures.

As a landscape architect, Pre had an artist’s eye. While his kids hated being tasked to “pull weeds”, even they appreciated the beauty he created in his yard.

In Germany, Pre studied the language with a private tutor, was president of a local wine tasting club, and simultaneously served as president of the local ski club. His proficiency in golf resulted in him often being recruited by senior military officers to play on their teams for tournaments.

Locally, Pre was elected President of the Conopus Club of San Antonio, was a member of the San Antonio Country Club, and was part of a weekly morning bible study group.

As “Dad”, Pre made a point to participate with each of his children according to their specific interests. Teresa, the eldest and trailblazer of the group, credits her love of travel to the adventures Pre and Patty exposed to her while growing up in Europe.

Teresa and her husband, Tracy, became such experienced travelers they planned corporate performance award trips to locations all over the world. They loved surprising her parents with trips, which they did on several occasions. The last trip Pre and Patty took as a couple, in fact, was an amazing river barge cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, planned by Teresa and Tracy.

Teresa recalls the time she needed an emergency surgical procedure done for kidney stones. She later learned, with pride, that the tool and technique used on her had actually been developed by her own father!

His second daughter, Tricia, was born loving horses. Pre built a horse corral and stall to house her first pony. Later, Santa brought a horse for her -and another for him- so that the two could ride and compete together in local western horse show competitions. Today, Tricia runs a nationally recognized horse breeding farm, thanks to the early support she got for her passion for horses.

Tricia treasures the memory of flying her dad back to Charleston for a final visit after Patty passed. They visited childhood homes, beaches where they dated, and finally to the Citadel where they originally met. Tricia and Rick took Pre to the spot where Pre and Patty’s hands first touched, and later, the Citadel allowed him to enter his old bedroom, look out of the window, and re-imagine the moment he first saw Patty.

Pre coached Liz, his youngest cheerleader/gymnast daughter, on tumbling in the backyard. He also critiqued papers she wrote, and helped her rehearse speeches for oral reports or student council elections. Thanks to his tutoring, Liz went into journalism/public relations, fields which required writing and public speaking skills.

When Liz and Med renovated an old home in Terrell Hills, Pre drew up the architectural plan used by the builders. At any given day during construction, you might have seen Pre under the house installing pipes to divert water away from the foundation, or up on a ladder installing gutters.

He was a fixer, both of physical things and challenges we encountered in life.

Pre rarely hired handymen. If he didn’t know how to fix something, he taught himself how to do it. Pre III used to joke about the amount of time his dad spent repairing an item most people would simply replace. He thrived on a challenge.

Pre coached Pre III’s baseball little league teams, spending endless hours in the workshop building and later flying model airplanes together. His son later became a pilot, first in the Air Force and now for American Airlines. He followed in his father’s footsteps—both in knowing how to fix just about anything—and also retiring as a general officer in the Air Force Reserves/Guard.

Patty Mengedoht Ball departed this world on June 24, 2020, during Covid. Sadly, the family was unable to have a funeral service for her. It is now the family’s wish to honor Patty as well. Pre and Patty are to be interred together.

Pre and Patty had many great years together traveling, skiing, scuba diving, golfing, dancing, and raising four children together. They had lifelong friendships they cherished to the end.

Both were born in Charleston, South Carolina; he on January 30, 1932, and she on October 4, 1935. His parents were Thomas Prioleau Ball and Teresa Daniel Ball, affectionately known as “Pop” and “Tia” to grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A former Delta Airlines pioneer and aviation legend, Pop was a hero to his son. He adored his only brother, Espy Daniel Ball, married to Kathleen Crooks Ball. They live in Tampa, Florida.

Patty’s parents were Lanville Henry Mengedoht and Claudia Vincent. Patty was the youngest of seven children: Claudia Cain, Lanville Mengedoht, Aggie Street, Ruthie Long, Barbara Bell, Dan Mengedoht, and Patty Ball. Sadly, Patty never knew her father, who died prior to her birth.

While Patty grew up with a widow mother forced to work to support her seven children, she somehow inherently knew how to provide an idyllic childhood for her own family. Often described as a “June Cleever”— the perfect wife and mother—her family could count on breakfasts and lunches made with a special, personal and loving flair…like pancakes with a smile made out of blueberries. The family ate together, with her wedding silver flatware, cloth napkins, individual napkin rings and fresh flowers on the table, often ones she picked herself.

Every holiday brought the promise of whimsical decorations to mark the occasion… a scary motion detector voice for Halloween, a Christmas tree overloaded with ornaments highlighting many family memories, and hearts and cupids in February. As adults, the Ball children and their spouses all have fond memories of the deviously hidden Easter basket/egg hunts held at Pre and Patty’s house.

To her daughters, Patty was not just their mom; she was their best friend. The love she had for each child was never in question. Patty loved animals, regularly donating to animal rescue charities. She and Liz religiously took their menagerie of four dogs for their daily romps into the woods of Olmos Basin.

A defining characteristic of Patty/Momma/Grandmomma was the broad smile that came so easily to her. Hospitable to everyone, she was always open to having hordes of grandchildren splashing in the pool, playing in the game room, or cuddled around her reading a book. Patty even dragged her ten grandchildren to the zoo!

Patty expressed “how lucky she was” that her children had married the people that they did. Tracy, Rick, Med and Julie had years of adventures with Patty and Pre, enjoying both their company and support. None of them, in turn, ever hesitated to lend a hug or offer to help, especially in the later years as illness took its toll.

Patty enjoyed painting, gardening, swimming laps, dining with friends, and walking her dogs. While she never believed herself to be a good cook, her family strongly disagreed. Every meal was aesthetically pleasing, with complementing colors on the plate, a side salad…and absolutely delicious. Tricia marveled at her mom's ability to "pull random things out of the refrigerator, throw it together, and somehow the meal was amazing.”

Patty was a member of the Assistance League, Military Civilian Club, Birthday Club and the San Antonio Country Club. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

Pre and Patty’s children are Teresa Boyer, married to William “Tracy” Boyer; Patricia Veley, married to Richard Veley, Elizabeth Medley, married to Col (Ret) Christopher “Med” Medley, MD, and Brig. Gen. (Ret) Thomas Prioleau Ball III, married to Julie Morrison Ball.

The grandchildren include: Brad Gaultney, married to Katie Thorne Gaultney; Michael Gaultney; Richard Jr., Daniel and Matthew Veley; Christopher Medley Jr., married to Samantha Cook Medley; Weston Medley, married to Eunyoung Han Medley; Major Amy Medley Moore, MD, married to Kyle Moore; Prio Ball IV, married to Courtney Campbell Ball; Jason Ball, married to Danielle Heinlein Ball; and Kelly and Ryan Boyer.

Great grandchildren include: Ford, Vivi, Sam and Daisy Gaultney; Owen, MaryRose, Lucy and (future sibling) Moore; Christopher III and Bailey Medley, Prio V. Ball; Diana Medley, and Madysen and Madeline Boyer.

Pre and Patty have numerous beloved nieces and nephews from their native South Carolina, many who have already reached out to offer their love and remembrances.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to the Thomas P. Ball, Jr., MD Residency Education Endowment, Department of Urology, UTHSCSA, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900; SNIPSA, (established by Dr Ben Espy, Pre’s third cousin); or the Animal Defense League (established by Rosalie Espy, Pre’s second cousin).

Visitation will be open to the public on Sunday, March 9, 2025, between the hours of 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Porter Loring Mortuary, located at 1101 McCullough Avenue. A funeral service and military honors will take place at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 10, 2025 followed by a reception which will be announced at the service.