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Pizza Sales To Benefit Family Of East Bay Quarterback

Hillsborough County School District

East Bay High School senior Rex Ballenger Jr. died May 19 due to injuries he suffered in a May 17 traffic accident. Ballenger used to work for the Papa John's Pizza restaurant on U.S. 301, north of Big Bend Road. The franchise's owners wanted to do something to help the Ballenger family with funeral and medical costs. So, from Monday through June 15, customers who also want to help should order a pizza from the restaurant's U.S. 301 location or its location at 3517 Bell Shoals Road and mention the Rex Ballenger Memorial Fund.

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 5, 2008

Those who wish to help the family of the East Bay High School quarterback who died in an automobile crash last month can do so by picking up a phone and ordering a pizza.

Rex Ballenger, 18, of Apollo Beach, died May 19 at Tampa General Hospital after suffering massive head injuries in a wreck May 17 on Big Bend Road at U.S. 41.

Ballenger used to work for the Papa John's Pizza restaurant on U.S. 301, north of Big Bend Road, said marketing director George Cadorette.

"Rex was part of the opening crew for some time," Cadorette said. "A lot of his friends still work there. He was certainly part of our extended family."

The franchise's owners, Jordan, Nicholas, Elliott Inc., wanted to do something to help the Ballenger family with funeral and medical costs.

So, from Monday through June 15, customers who also want to help should order a pizza from the restaurant's U.S. 301 location or its location at 3517 Bell Shoals Road and mention the Rex Ballenger Memorial Fund, Cadorette said.

The franchise has pledged to donate 25 percent of sales from those customers to the fund, he said.

Ballenger was driving a 1997 Saturn sedan west when it hit the back of a tractor-trailer. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The other driver was not hurt.

Donations to assist the family may be made to the Rex Ballenger Memorial Fund at the SunTrust bank in downtown Ruskin.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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