By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal
RUSTON — Much has been written and talked about legendary Grambling State University baseball coach Wilbert Ellis and all of the honors and Hall of Fame inductions he’s earned over the years.
But a publication party event celebrating a magazine profile written by GSU History Department Head Edward Holt focused not on Ellis’ athletic achievements, but instead on the impact he has made on so many people across the state of Louisiana – and around the country.
Holt’s story was written for the new edition of 64 Parishes magazine. A panel discussion featuring some of Ellis’ closest friends was the highlight of the event held Thursday night inside the Lincoln Parish Library’s Events Center.
That panel consisted of former Ruston, LSU and NFL quarterback Bert Jones, Pastor Maurice White of Mt. Zion Traveler Baptist Church, former Grambling and MLB pitcher Gary Eave, attorney and former Louisiana State Rep. Patrick O. Jefferson, and John Belton, District Attorney for Louisiana’s Third Judicial District (Lincoln and Union parishes) with Holt moderating the discussion.
Discussed were things like what lessons learned — aside from baseball — panel members have taken away from their relationships with Ellis.
“The thing that sticks out from all I’ve learned from Coach Ellis is that you have to finish,” White said. “You have to finish strong. The second lesson I’ve learned from him is that you have to be patient.
“He always tells me, ‘Pastor, you have to be patient, God will work it out.’ ”
For Jones, the lesson learned is never forgetting to give time to others.
“I was at a College World Series, and nobody was bigger than Coach Ellis,” Jones said. “I mean, every coach in the stadium, which is every major coach in the country, looked up to him. And he spoke to everyone, including my grandson, and made them all feel special and gave them all the time they wanted.”
For Eave, it was the lesson of always being ready to give back what’s been given to you.
“That’s something he taught me and hundreds of players that played for him over the years,” Eave said. “In the Bible, the word of God says to whom much is given, much is required. And that’s in responsibility, that’s in showing up, that’s in dedication, that’s in commitment, and that’s just in being able to know what you can be counted on. That’s what Coach Ellis instilled in me and the guys that I played with.”
The panel also talked about the impact Ellis, a Ruston native, has had on their lives as well as others.
“Service — service to God,” Belton said. “Service to his family, service to his community. He is selfless. He is not selfish. He is a father figure worth respect. He is a leader respected in our community and in our state.
“Leaders are not afraid to stand up and say they believe in God. Leaders are not afraid to stand up and tell you the truth, and not put a spin on things. We need more of that. And that’s what Coach Ellis represents — a true man of God.”
Jones, the 1976 NFL Most Valuable Player and a former American Legion pitcher for Ruston’s T.L. James team, noted he never got his wish to try to strike out one of Grambling’s greats, 1974 National League batting champion Ralph Garr, who was in the audience. But he said he was proud to emphasize Ellis’ greatest impact is serving to bond his community together.
“Coach, you are a glue for his community,” Jones said. “You have done so much, just by yourself, bonding people, bonding communities, bonding projects for the hospital, baseball camps, just building camaraderie for the community of Ruston and Grambling.
“You are the glue in this community that has made us stick together. And for that, we thank you,”
Jefferson said one of the bigger impacts he’s seen Ellis make has been the baseball coach’s work in keeping alive the memory and accomplishments for his near lifelong friend, late GSU football coach Eddie Robinson.
“I don’t know of any other individual who has championed, who has furthered, who has maintained, the legacy of Coach Eddie Robinson than Coach Ellis,” Jefferson said. “Most people in his position would feel that it’s their time to receive the recognition they deserve, but Coach Ellis continues to sing the praises of Coach (Fredrick) Hobdy (former GSU basketball coach and athletics director) and Coach (Eddie) Robinson.
“We need great men. Great men who stand. Great men who are heard. Great men who are seen. Great men who contribute. Great men who unite, great men who bind together as the glue, and that’s what tonight is about as we celebrate this man.”
As he closed out the night with his personal remarks as someone who is a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the SWAC Hall of Fame, the Grambling Legends Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame and a man who has been awarded with the Ruston-Lincoln (Parish) Chamber of Commerce’s Robert E. Russ Award, which is the highest award that is given for community impact in Ruston or Lincoln Parish, and the Bill Best Humanitarian Award, Ellis admitted the night was a special one for him.
“I’ve been honored in other places, but there’s nothing like being honored at home,” Ellis said. “God bless Lincoln Parish. God bless Grambling State University. And God bless everybody here, and those who are not here. And God bless America.”
Contact Scott at tscottboatright@gmail.com