A Radio Giant Is Silenced
Elmo Ellis was the brains behind the resurrection of radio after the Second World War. His ideas at WSB Radio were copied all over the nation. Elmo Ellis was a pioneer in talk radio, before that name meant a high-pitched screech and scream, often laced with dirty language.
Mr. Ellis (nobody called him Elmo) led WSB Radio through the tough civil rights turmoil in the 1960’s. His leadership positioned the radio station right in the middle of the debates and the arguments, and he made sure it was a calm and reasonable voice. It paid off. Atlanta saw relatively little violence during that time, and the city positioned itself to be the economic and industrial center of “The New South”.
I worked for Elmo Ellis. It was not easy. And when you got a note to “See me, EE”, it sent a little chill up your spine. He was not the kind of man who suffered fools lightly. I probably got more than my share of those notes.
His leadership was based on integrity, commitment to quality in our individual effort, and a strong feeling of community and responsibility. Elmo Ellis kept his mind on his station, and his heart for Atlanta. It worked.
Last month, Mr. Ellis could barely talk, but his son brought him to the WSB Old Timers reunion. As he approached the crowd, everyone rose to their feet and gave a standing ovation for several minutes.
Cancer was taking its toll, but his mind was still sharp. He reminisced with many of us, especially with some of the older veterans who had known him for so long.
Toward the end of his visit, my youngest daughter, Julie approached him, and told him how much of an influence he had been on my life. She told Mr. Ellis that I spoke of him, and his lessons frequently. His reply was “You should be proud of your dad, he’s a good man.”
Some days I am not so sure about either of those facts.
But I can say for sure that if there is anything in my work to be proud of, somewhere, it has an “EE” on the page.
Dave,
It should do your heart good to hear this, and I am writing this in all sincerity. I will refer to you, and I do behind your back, with the kind of words you have for Mr. Ellis. Now, I never worked with you as my supervisor. But you have been a professional mentor and a good friend for the past three years. All that I have in this business and will continue to gain, can be credited in larger part to your advice and your encouragement.
Sadly, that is something that you do not often get from broadcast management these days. You get some, but it seems from my experience so far, that I get more from my experienced "peers"….and I put peers in quotes, because we are not truly peers because I am no where near the level of broadcaster that you, Hallerin, John WIlkerson and others who have been so good to me are.
I want you to know that and remember that.
Jay
PS - Now don’t let it get to your head. I still have to work with you.
Your blog is so different from us, very nice.