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2024 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 56
BY SENATOR SEABAUGH
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Wilbert Ellis upon receiving the 2024 Louisiana Sports
Ambassador Award and on being inducted into the 2024 class of the Louisiana Sports Hall
of Fame.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend Wilbert Ellis upon receiving the 2024 Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award
3 and on being inducted into the 2024 class of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
4 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association established the Ambassador
5 Award to recognize individuals who have made long-term exemplary contributions to the
6 perception of Louisiana through their ties to the state's sports landscape; and
7 WHEREAS, the Ambassador Award is not bestowed annually, but rather on
8 occasion, as determined by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee and, this
9 year, the Selection Committee has selected Wilbert Ellis as the second recipient of this
10 esteemed award; and
11 WHEREAS, Wilbert Ellis, fondly known as Coach Ellis, has exemplified outstanding
12 leadership, dedication, and commitment throughout his life-long coaching journey, leaving
13 an indelible mark on the lives of countless individuals; and
14 WHEREAS, a native of Ruston, Louisiana, Coach Ellis' journey began with a
15 childhood passion for athletics and a natural inclination towards leadership, nurtured by the
16 lessons instilled by his parents about the importance of giving back to the community; and
17 WHEREAS, graduating from Grambling State University in 1959 with a degree in
18 physical education, Coach Ellis spent thirty seasons as the head baseball coach, the second
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1 baseball coach in the school's history, and a grand total of forty-three seasons, including time
2 as a graduate assistant and assistant coach, for the Grambling State University baseball
3 program, guiding the Tigers to three Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) titles, five
4 SWAC Western Division crowns, five National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
5 Tournament appearances, amassing a record of 743 wins, 463 losses, and one tie, and
6 becoming one of the all-time winningest baseball coaches in the history of Louisiana; and
7 WHEREAS, Coach Ellis' leadership and commitment to excellence were further
8 demonstrated through his roles as Assistant and Associate Director of Athletics at
9 Grambling, working closely with legendary coaches Eddie Robinson and Fred Hobdy,
10 bringing the New York Yankees in for exhibition games, and overseeing the construction
11 of Grambling State's new baseball stadium; and
12 WHEREAS, named SWAC Coach of the Year seven times (1978, '83, '84, '85, '91,
13 '98, and '99), Coach Ellis' achievements have been duly recognized through his induction
14 into prestigious halls of fame including the American Baseball Coaches Association,
15 Southwestern Athletic Conference, and Louisiana Justice; and
16 WHEREAS, throughout his coaching career, Coach Ellis attended national coaches
17 conventions to learn different ways to make an impact in kids' lives, enriching his dedication
18 to youth development and the promotion of sportsmanship and wellness; and
19 WHEREAS, beginning in 1990, Coach Ellis conducted baseball camps in Omaha,
20 Nebraska, as part of the NCAA College World Series; his tireless efforts in working with
21 youth were recognized by the Great Plains Black History Museum in Omaha which
22 established the Coach Wilbert Ellis "Service to Youth, Sports, Health, and Wellness" award
23 in his honor; the award is presented annually during the College World Series; and
24 WHEREAS, each summer, Coach Ellis conducts the Wilbert Ellis Baseball Clinic,
25 an annual free youth clinic teaching baseball fundamentals and life knowledge to kids and
26 includes parent sessions where local police, school administrators, and mental health
27 professionals talk to parents about how to be better and improve the community; and
28 WHEREAS, Coach Ellis' philanthropic contributions to the community have been
29 recognized and celebrated, including receiving the 2015 Robert E. Russ Award for his
30 outstanding charitable efforts and being honored with the 2021 Bill Best Humanitarian
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1 Award by the Ruston Rotary Club, underscoring his unwavering commitment to improving
2 the lives of others; and
3 WHEREAS, Grambling State University, Coach Ellis' beloved alma mater, has
4 honored this outstanding man through induction into the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of
5 Fame, retirement of his #31 baseball jersey, and naming the baseball stadium on the
6 Grambling State University campus, the Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park.
7 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
8 commend Wilbert Ellis upon receiving the 2024 Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award and
9 on being inducted into the 2024 class of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
11 Wilbert Ellis.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Kathy Liberty.
DIGEST
SCR 56 Original 2024 Regular Session Seabaugh
Commends Wilbert Ellis upon receiving the 2024 Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award and
on being inducted into the 2024 class of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
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