Board Messages
Legacy Educators: A Tribute to Oral and Tacy Ballam
April 2, 2026
When you retire, how will you be remembered?
Growing up in Trenton in the 80’s and early 90’s, I remember my great uncle and aunt, Oral and Tacy (Chambers) Ballam, from Smithfield. I visited with them every summer at our big Chambers family reunion. They also lived next door to my great grandma, and around the corner from my grandma. Oral and Tacy took interest in everyone. They were always happy making a difference in people’s lives. Not surprisingly, they were both educators! I remember Oral serving as Dean of the College of Education at USU, which he did for 23 years. He started his career at North Cache High School from 1949-1955, was principal of the Hyde Park Elementary School from 1957-1959, and was superintendent of the Cache County School District from 1959-1963. Tacy started her teaching career at North Cache High School in 1947 as an English teacher, later teaching 3rd grade at Summit Elementary. She retired after 30 years in the district. The two of them spent their lives serving young people.
This past week I was remembering just how impactful Oral and Tacy were for me and my wife. The Ballams lived close to my wife’s family (well before I knew my wife or her family) when she was growing up. Tacy taught my wife’s twin sister at Summit Elementary. Her twin became an ASL teacher and named her second daughter Tacy. My wife is an English and ELL teacher. Mrs. Ballam, the teacher and neighbor, made a difference in their lives. In addition, Oral married me and my wife. Uncle Oral and Aunt Tacy were difference makers! They were educators! And they did all of this while raising five children, Oral serving 3 terms as Smithfield City Mayor, as well as many other civic and church assignments.
Why do I share this story? Quite simply, the Ballams chose careers in education and thereby enhanced the lives of thousands of young people in Cache Valley. And those thousands of young people have now gone on to influence many parts of the world. They established high academic standards in the classroom. They genuinely cared about others. Oral and Tacy Ballam taught and served with love. You could say the Ballams were ‘legacy educators’ who planted seeds of hope and opportunity that are still producing fruit today. Their legacy will continue for generations to come!
As a member of the Cache County School Board, I’m grateful to carry on with all of you a proud legacy of teaching and learning. We are in education because we care and because we choose to make a difference in people’s lives each and every day. That’s how we will be remembered!
Thank you, sincerely, for all you do.
Brian Chambers
Board Member
Cache County School District Board of Education
