He was the son of Karolos ("Charles") Ballas and Maria (née Lymnaios), who were Greek immigrants that ran a restaurant.
He enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17 in 1942 during World War II and was a bombardier.
He married Maria Marulanda who was of Mexican and Spanish descent in 1951.
His grandson Mark Ballas is a dancer in Dancing with the Stars.
Using a tin can laced with fishing line and an edge trimmer, he tried out his idea, which worked.