William R. Ellis Jr. diligently chronicled and celebrated Akron’s Black community for decades as editor and publisher of The Reporter.
Generations of families read his articles and discussed them at home, work, church and school. Ellis inspired dialogue in stores, restaurants, barbershops, beauty salons, stadiums, clubs — anywhere people would meet.
“Did you see what was in The Reporter?” has been a conversation starter for more than 50 years.
Ellis’ steadying presence will be missed in Akron. The award-winning newsman passed away June 21 at age 74.
“I never knew when he wasn’t trying to make the world a better place,” said civil rights leader Ophelia Averitt, former president of the Akron chapter of the NAACP. “He did not complain. He was about doing for others whenever he could.”
Akron NAACP President Judi Hill, a longtime educator and local leader, said Ellis was dedicated to the community in so many ways.
“He was a very committed person to the African American experience and us understanding our role in making sure that people understood our history and understood the big scheme of things,” she said.
Like father, like son
Ellis succeeded his father, William R. Ellis Sr. (1917-1990), an attorney and ordained minister who founded The Reporter in 1969. Bill Jr. began working at the weekly newspaper in 1973 and became publisher after his father’s death.
The Reporter has long advocated for progress in education, politics and employment, and provided an outlet for social and civic organizations, schools and churches in the African American community.
Like his father, Ellis wanted to give Akron residents a positive image. He once said that the most significant job of The Reporter was to “let everybody know that they are somebody and they are important.”
“We provide unity in the Black community,” he said. “Now people know what’s happening.”
Hill said Ellis called her every week to discuss events, activities and strategies, including the week before he passed away. He always had ideas to share.
“He took the work so seriously,” Hill said. “He wanted to know what we were doing. He wanted to make sure that I was aware of things that were upcoming.”
Averitt described Ellis as “a prince of a man.”
“Through the years, he always gave me a helping hand,” Averitt said. “ … He’d say, ‘Here I am. Just ask me. I’m willing to do whatever I can.’ ”
Family ties in Youngstown
Ellis was born April 19, 1950, in Springfield, Ohio, to Rosemary and William R. Ellis Sr., and grew up in Youngstown with siblings Valanta, Rhetta and Carlton. He attended public schools in Mahoning County, earned an Eagle Scout badge in 1968 and served in the honor guard at President Richard M. Nixon’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.
Later volunteering as a scoutmaster, Ellis championed scouting as the best way “to give urban youths a diversity of career choices,” teaching them self-esteem and outdoor survival skills, and preparing them to be future leaders, responsible citizens and good husbands and fathers.
He also was a big supporter of the YMCA, where he learned to swim as a child. Ellis became a Red Cross lifeguard, swimming instructor and first aid instructor, and was proud to have served three years as a YMCA aquatics director in Youngstown.
Ellis majored in political science at Youngstown State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1973 while working at The Reporter.
Later that year, he married Youngstown State graduate Florida Eiland, who became an Akron Public Schools secretary, substitute instructor and social studies teacher at Central-Hower High School.
The couple welcomed two daughters: Anitra and Chantée.
The Reporter began in 1960s
Ellis’ father established The Reporter as civil unrest swept the nation following the 1968 assassinations of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. At the time, it had been a decade since a Black newspaper — the Informer — had been published in Akron.
“There was a breakdown in the community,” Ellis Sr. later told the Beacon Journal. “Blacks were not in the mainstream and the people handling things were not receptive to their needs.
“Also, there were few Black in the media, and community leaders were unable to communicate the message. The rank-and-file didn’t understand and riots broke out. Progress should have been made, but it wasn’t. This is what brought us into being.”
The newspaper established its office at 39 E. Market St. and later moved to 1134 S. Main St. Today, its headquarters is at 1035 Rosemary Blvd. Over the years, Bill Jr. and Carlton Ellis learned every aspect of the business from writing to photography to printing to advertising to marketing to distribution to online publication.
In addition to covering the positive achievements of churches, students and social organizations, The Reporter tackled such topics as fair housing, affirmative action, equal employment, voting rights and criminal justice.
“We’ve been an advocate for a lot of unpopular Black concerns and issues,” Ellis acknowledged.
In the 1970s, the newspaper published a series of articles about the scarcity of Black police officers and firefighters in Akron. A court order later required the city to hire more Black citizens for its safety forces.
Reflecting hopes and dreams
Ellis said Akron’s Black community needed a newspaper “that reflected their hopes and dreams.”
He believed that the secret to the city’s success was cooperation among all of its residents. Unity wasn’t the goal for African Americans only.
“To make Akron great, we have to work together along with concerned whites in the community, not only to improve the Black community, but the whole community,” he said.
Hill said Ellis wanted to make sure that the Akron NAACP coordinated with other organizations and remained connected at the state and national levels. Although he used a wheelchair in later years and his mobility was limited, he still went to out-of-town conferences “to learn more, do more and be a part of this history,” she said.
In addition to informing and entertaining, one of The Reporter’s prime functions has been to record African American history.
“Black history is every day, every week and every minute,” Ellis once told an audience. “We try to show our youth today things that are happening now and show tomorrow’s youth things to build upon in the future.”
Ellis served on the National Newspaper Publishers Association board and as president of the Cleveland Minority Publishers Association. He was a life member of the NAACP on the national level and participated in the Assault on Illiteracy Program. He belonged to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Prince Hall Masons, Black Professional Association and other groups.
“He was a member of so many things,” Averitt said. “He always said, ‘Sign me up. I want to be a part of it.’ ”
Among many accolades over the years, Ellis and The Reporter were named 2021 Community Service Honorees from Project GRAD Akron at the 15th annual Achieving Dreams Celebration.
In 2017, the Ohio Memory Project digitized The Reporter’s archives after the Dick and Chris Chenoweth Fund of Akron Community Foundation provided a $10,000 grant to the Ohio History Connection.
“I never dreamed I’d see the day my work would be recorded for people to see for a lifetime,” Ellis said during a ceremony at Akron Main Library.
The public can go online to ohiomemory.org to view editions of The Reporter dating back to 1969, and appreciate the Ellis family’s work.
Ellis funeral July 5 in Akron
William R. Ellis Jr. was preceded in death by his parents, William and Rosemary, and his wife, Florida. Survivors include daughters Anitra Bailey (Ransford Bailey) and Chantée Ellis; siblings Valanta Brown, Rhetta Jo Williams and Carlton Ellis; grandchildren Ransford Bailey Jr., Jasmine Bailey, Jaelynn Bailey and Amira Bailey; great-grandson Shyloh Belcher; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.
Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home is handling arrangements at 529 W. Thornton St. in Akron. Calling hours will be 10 a.m. to noon Friday, July 5, with the service afterward. For more information, go to https://calhounfuneral.com/ or call 330-535-1543.
Ellis will remain an influence on the community and especially to those who knew him.
“His impact on me will be to keep moving forward and don’t forget my charge in this role as president of the NAACP: Don’t ever forget my responsibility,” Hill said.
Averitt said Ellis’ legacy is being “an example of helping others in their pursuit for a quality life.”
“Regardless of what your status in life would be, reach out and help somebody, whether you know them or not,” she said.
Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com
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