By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
For Phillip Ellis, his nomination to the Alabama Future Farmers Association’s Wall of Honor is a link between past and future leaders in agriculture education.
Ellis, who was honored with the award in June, has had his name inscribed on a wall that includes his own agriculture teacher and FFA instructor, Dave Fleming of Evergreen. And two of his former students who presented the honor — Todd Williamson and Dennis Fuqua — are now agriculture teachers themselves, at W.S. Neal and Flomaton.
Ellis said he encouraged his students to be active in the state FFA, and they often won awards at the district, state and even national level.
Ellis said he was grateful for the support of students and parents over the years, as well as community members including Cecil Williamson, Allen Pettis, Robert Ware, Bernie Raines — who with Harry Weaver hired Ellis in 1972 — Tom Neal and Ed Leigh McMillan.