Memoriam to Dr. Jack Ward
John A. Ward: 9-6-12 to 6-17-91
Museum Curator, Geologist, Artifact Collector/Dealer, Author, Composer, Musician
The first true researcher and scholar to be approached concerning the authenticity of the tablets from the Lost Tomb was John A. (Jack) Ward. JW possessed what has since become known as one of the finest book collections to exist in North America. He worked and studied tirelessly as a geologist, consultant and engineer in the tri-state (IL,IN,KY) area for over 45 years. He was an expert beyond all others and totally familiar in the subjects of rock formations, mounds, riverbeds, caves, mineral deposits and limestone veins in his area. JW consulted for all the major limestone rock quarries within 150 miles of his home in Vincennes, IN.
JW was an artist in pure form beginning as an accomplished classical composer and performing musical scores on his priceless Amati Violin. He was a painter, sculptor, designer and he also possessed a photographic memory. He was a pillar of the community in Vincennes where he was awarded Citizen of the Year on several occasions. He personally knew Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Reagan, and he dealt commonly with senators, congressmen and judges from Indiana on many occasions. He was often required to consult for government projects and to assist in items of legislation concerning his local region. In 1983, he was presented an award signed by President Ronald Reagan. JW was the leading figure and champion of the Wabash River Transportation Project which increased maritime navigation along the Wabash River and its important tributaries.
John Ward was an author writing several books and pamphlets on many topics during his lifetime. He was selected to oversee, document and print all data relating to the Wabash River Aquifer that flows along the New Madrid Fault below the Wabash. He researched and recorded for the states of Illinois and Indiana the final government drafts concerning the strange and magnificent underground river that flows over 125 trillion gallons/day and lies beneath the Wabash. His thesis on this subject is still used today by the State of Indiana as the authoritative manuscript. There is no one in the area of southern IL whom it would have been more fortunate for Burrows to have met in his hour of bewilderment and paranoia than Jack Ward..
JW was fascinated with the unknown past of ancient America. His obsession for knowledge led him to conclusions far different than what most scholars could ever understand or scheme, however, his theories were no less bizarre than any of his contemporaries. He had been completely involved with amateur archaeology his entire life having amassed an entire museum full of artifacts from his regional arena. JW had seen, found, traded, bought and sold 1000's of ancient artifacts over his lifetime. He was completely and honorably qualified to assess, analyze, determine and conclude whether or not any artifact was real.
Burrows met JW in 1983 and was impressed greatly with JW as is well documented in his public speeches and letters made at that time. JW had authenticated the tablets from the tomb without hesitation and obtained several documented essays from other specialists concerning compound structure, indigenous locale and patina layers. All of his research in this category is flawless and absolutely astute. He simply could not understand why the landowner never came forth. JW often wondered why it was always the 'landowner' who most desired the additional scholars to authenticate the stones; they had supposedly come from a tomb on his property.
JW must be given credit for actually making the first strikes at deciphering tablets from the Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great. He obtained and connected a few accurate phonetic values in several cases, building words and names and pronouncing them correctly. He deciphered 2 important stones which would have eventually led him to conclude this crypt to be the burial of Alexander the Great, however, his timeline and dating of 726BC was too far away for all of his clues to fit together properly. In memorial to John Aquila (Jack) Ward of Vincennes, Indiana, I'll have a Roi Tan.
Authored by Horatio Rybnikar
To read more about Jack Ward, see his autobiography from this LINK.
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