William S. Ballenger Sr. (December 5, 1866 – 1951) was one of the five men who organized and owned the Buick Motor Company, bringing it to Flint, Michigan, in 1905.
[1] He was elected secretary and treasurer of Buick until 1908, when the firm was purchased by General Motors.
The main athletic facility on campus, the William S. Ballenger Field house, was named in his honour.
[5] Ballenger Highway is named after him because he was the principal benefactor of a major hospital, now part of the McLaren Health Care Corporation.
[6] He was also chairman of the board of directors of Citizens Commercial & Savings Bank (now part of FirstMerit Corporation).