Edward Ball

Edward Ball (March 21, 1888 - June 24, 1981) was a powerful figure in business and politics in Florida for decades.

His sister Jessie (1884-1970) became the third wife of Alfred I. du Pont in 1921, and her brother became closely associated with du Pont's business interests, especially after he moved to Florida a few years later. On du Pont's death in 1935 Ball took control of the trusts established by his will, which continued to control business interests ranging from the Florida East Coast Railway to the St. Joe Paper Company, and managed their investments in other companies. He came under repeated criticism for not doing more than he could avoid to fulfill the requirements of du Pont's will that trust income be used to aid the Nemours Foundation in care for the crippled children and indigent elderly of Delaware.

In politics, he amassed a wide network of connections, his "Pork Chop Gang" known for gathering to toast "Confusion to the Enemy" with Jack Daniel's whiskey. He was a main financier of the defeat of Claude Pepper's effort to be reelected to the United States Senate.