Greg Ball (politician)
A former Air Force officer who brought a combative, conservative voice to the New York State Senate, championing veterans and tax cuts.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American politician·Birthday: September 16·Generation X
Biography
Greg Ball's political career was forged in military discipline and sharp ideological conviction. After serving as an active-duty Air Force officer, including a stint at the Pentagon, he entered New York politics with the energy of a crusader. In the State Assembly and later the Senate, he carved out a reputation as a fierce, sometimes controversial, conservative Republican in a largely blue state. He focused relentlessly on property tax relief, ethics reform, and advocacy for veterans and military families. His tenure was marked by public clashes with leaders from both parties, reflecting a style that prioritized principle over political convenience. Choosing not to seek re-election in 2014, he left the legislature and shifted his focus to private business and advocacy.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Greg was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Greg Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Greg's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a New York State Senator for the 40th district from 2011 to 2014.
- Founded the nonprofit 'Keep America Safe Now' focusing on veterans' issues.
- Authored and passed 'Brittany's Law,' creating a violent felony offender registry in New York.
- Was a leading voice in the repeal of the MTA payroll tax for small businesses and schools.
Did You Know?
He was an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force, assigned to the Pentagon.
He owns a craft brewery in Patterson, New York, called 'Gregory's Nine Iron.'
He is a licensed pilot.
He appeared on the reality TV show 'The Apprentice' in 2004.
“Secure borders and lower taxes aren't political slogans; they're the foundation of a free state.”
