In 1971, Rob & Demi Ayres received a 12 pound shotput as a gift from their friend Hank Mixsell. Since then, it has been presented to various family members to honor significant events. Here is where you can follow the ball as it travelled and took on various persona.
Use the index below, or the menu above to navigate to specific shotput events.
Year: Recipient, Event, Persona
1971: Hank Mixsell - "In the beginning..."
1971: Rob Ayres & Demi Walsh, Engagement, Shotput
1971: George & Susan Noble, Marriage, Shotput
1976: Tom & Margo Smith, Marriage, Ugly Bug Ball
1978: C. Burgess Ayres, Retirement, World's slowest tennis ball
1980: Tom & Margo Smith, Heather's birth, Shotput infant
1981: Burgess N. Ayres, Headmastership Wardlaw Hartridge , Endowment
1984: Katharine G. Ayres, 65th birthday, Tiphoney diamond
1985: George Noble, Medical Board Certification, No more ball and chain
1987: Katharine G. Ayres, Hip replacement, Ball and socket
1992: Ursula J. Ayres, Graduation from Middlesex, Northwestern freshwoman
1992: Adam Noble, Graduation Ward Melville, University of Vermont catamount ball
1992: Burge & Kathy Ayres, Golden wedding anniversary, Gold ball
1993: Barbara Ayres, Graduation Harvard, Harvie ball
1995: Alice T. Noble, Graduation Ward Melville, Harvie ball
1998: Heather E. Smith, Graduation Phillips Andover, Brown bruno ball
2000: Robert G. Ayres, Heart Attack Survivor, Cheeseball
2001: Andrew B. Smith, Graduation Phillips Andover, UMass ball
2002: Eliot M. Ayres, Graduation Proctor, Dickinson golfball
2002: Ursula & Tom Ostrum, Marriage , Wedding ball
2004: Mally Smith, Graduation Milton, George Washington University ball
2005: Meryl R. Ayres, Graduation Concord Carlisle, Graduate ball
2005: Heather & Doug Hsu, Marriage, Frog bride
2006: Margo & Tom Smith, 30th Wedding Anniversary, Ugly Bug Ball - Reprise
2007: Alice & Triften Chmil, Marriage, Biker Bride
2008: Cindy Ayres, 64th Birthday, Magic Eight Squared Ball
2010: Robert G. Ayres, Ayres Field Plaque, Baseball
2014: Susan Ayres Noble, Birth of 2nd Granchild, Supergram
2017: Andrew & Christine Smith, Zurich Baby
2019: Mally Smith, Masters Degree
2025: Anna Hsu, Boston Latin Grad and Smith College Freshman