Elmo Ellis

Family-Placed Death Notice

Retired General Manager, WSB-AM, FM; Vice-President Emeritus, Cox Broadcasting Corporation. Elmo was born to Bertha F. Seletz Israel and Samuel Bear Israel in Birmingham, Alabama on Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m., weighing 11 pounds. He died on Friday, June 24, 2005. He grew up in West Blocton, Alabama where he captained his high school football team and won state championships for debate and speech. He was hired as Publicity Director of WSB Radio in 1940. He was Communications Officer (Captain) in the Air Force, 1942-1946, where he wrote, directed, and produced radio programs for stars such as William Holden, George Montgomery, Van Heflin, and Glenn Miller. After WWII, he was writer and director of network dramatic shows, including CBS Radios "We the People" series, "Great Jury Trials", and "The FBI in Peace and War." He became Production Manager of WSB-TV in 1948 and produced the South's first television program. He returned to WSB Radio in 1952 to revive what was then a media "in the doldrums" and remained with the station until he retired in 1982. Elmo invented scores of broadcasting ideas and concepts, and was creator of the Shining Light Award, given annually by WSB Radio and The Atlanta Gas Light Company. As assistant to J. Leonard Reinsch, he produced and directed the broadcasts of four Democratic National Conventions, including the first-ever televised political convention in 1952. He was Syndicated columnist for Neighbor Newspapers, 1982-2005. Elmo was author of numerous editorials, articles, essays, and books, including Sleepy Hollow Poems, 1942; "Removing the Rust from Radio," 1954; Happiness is Worth the Effort, 1970; Opportunities in Broadcasting Careers, 1986, 5th Edition, 1999; The Youthful Option, 1997. He co-authored, with J. Leonard Reinsch, Radio Station Management, 1960; this volume was the standard college textbook of its time and was translated into several languages. He was named "Outstanding Graduate" of the West Blocton High School, Class of 1936, was Phi Beta Kappa graduate and "The Outstanding Student" of The University of Alabama, class of 1940, and the only student ever to edit all three major student publications. He earned his M.A. in Journalism, Emory University 1948. He taught some of the nations first college raadio and television production and writing classes. He was the founder of the Elmo Ellis Professional-in-Residence Endowed Fund at the University of Alabama, received an Honorary Doctorate from Oglethorpe University, was Past President, Georgia Association of Broadcasters, was former Chairman: National Association of FM Broadcasters, NBC Affiliates, Radio Code Board, and the National Association of Broadcasters. He served in leadership roles with the Peach Bowl; Atlanta Landmarks/Save the Fox; Emory, Oglethorpe, Ga. State, and Clark Atlanta; Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts; Greater Atlanta Council on Child Abuse; the Anti-Defamation League (Past-Chairman, S.E. Region Advisory Board, Life Member National Advisory Commission); Junior Achievement; National Heart Assn.; Ga. Safety Council; Multiple Sclerosis; and more than two dozen other professional, civic, and charitable organizations. He received countless awards and honors including: Who's Who; the Peabody Award; Time Magazine, Atlanta's 100 Leaders of Tomorrow; The Alfred P. Sloan Award; a U.S. Presidential Commendation; The George Washington Honor Medal, plus 12 additional Freedom's Foundation medals; the ADL Abe Goldstein Human Relations Award; Boy Scouts of America, Silver Beaver Award; Atlanta Magazine, 200 Who Shaped Atlanta; Radio Ink Magazine, 75 Broadcasting Leaders who Exerted A Distinctive and Major Impact on the Industry; Heroes, Saints, and Legends Award, Wesley Woods Foundation; Ga. Music Hall of Fame; Univ. of Ala. College of Communications, Hall of Fame; Ga. Trend Magazines 100 Georgians of the Century; The Hugo Black Award, Univ. of Ala.; and Distinguished Alumni Awards from Emory and University of Alabama. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruth Ballinger Ellis; daughter, Janet and Bruce Beerman, and grandson, Bradford Scott Beerman; son, William Bryan and Judi Ellis and family, Connor and Cason Honea. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 27, 11:30 a.m. at The Temple (1589 Peachtree Street) with Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin officiating. Burial will follow at Arlington Cemetery. Arrangements by Dressler's Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta 770-451-4999.