Hometown: La Grange, KY (High)
Position: F Playing Height: 5-9
Date of Birth: January 3, 1905
Date of Death: January 23, 1992
Game by Game Statistics
Kentucky Career Notes:
Multi-Sport Player [Football]
| Season | Games Played | Total Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1926-27 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 1 | 5 |
Obituary - Original TSA member Ellis dies at 87, Tampa (FL) Tribune (January 25, 1992)
A native of La Grange, Ky., Ellis moved to the Tampa Bay area 32 years ago from La Grange. He spent more than 30 years with WEDU-TV, Channel 3, as assistant general manager.
Ellis was an assistant football coach at Georgia Tech from 1945 to 1951 and served more than 10 years on the TSA. He also was a member and deacon at the First Christian Church in Tampa.
"He was a big part of the initial Tampa Sports Authority and did a whole lot in the way of publicizing the efforts of the board when we were just starting out,'' said Joe Zalupski, outgoing executive director of the TSA and one of the original 11 members of the board when it was adopted in 1967.
"He was a good, hard-working board member who had a lot of influence with college coaches,'' said Barbara Davis, TSA director of personnel. ""He helped with things we needed. In the early days, when we were trying to get events and coaches to bring teams here, he was always willing to do what was needed to make those things happen.''
Ellis played a key role in scheduling football games for Tampa Stadium. Zalupski said Ellis was appointed by then-Gov. Hayden Burns. Ellis served from 1965-69 and chaired the football committee during that time.
"Ray was an indispensable member of the authority, mostly because of his wide experience with football,'' said A. Vince Thornton, the first chairman of the TSA.
Ellis is survived by his wife, Martha; one sister, Lucille Kelsall of St. Joseph, Mich.; four nieces, five great-nieces and one great-nephew.
Curry and Son Funeral Home in Tampa is handling the funeral arrangements.
