Thursday, October 13, 2011

The late Harry Ellis was a fine man - and a HUGE Alabama football fan

Evergreen’s Harry Ellis, who passed away on Oct. 3, loved Alabama football, and he might have been Conecuh County’s biggest Crimson Tide football fan.

How big was Ellis’ love for the Crimson Tide?

It was big enough that even the SEC big wheels in Birmingham were aware of it.
Eric SanInocencio, who writes a regular sports column called “The Monday Three and Out” for the SEC Digital Network in Birmingham, had the following to say about Harry and his family in his column this Monday.

“I wasn’t born in this part of the country, nor did I attend an SEC school in college. The most exciting part of this job for me is learning about our fans passion, the deep connection they have with the schools they cheer for. Nowhere in the country is this more prevalent than the SEC, where generations of families bleed their college color, using their team’s successes as a timeline that marks their lives.

“For the Golsons (Lyeffion native Ellis Golson and his wife, Rachel Ellis Golson, a native of Evergreen), this belief is no different. Having chronicled them in this space before, they are the epitome of this type of SEC family. Deep rooted in Alabama tradition, they approach life with a love for the Crimson Tide that has spanned 50 years. Saturdays aren’t just gameday for them, they are trips to the chapel of football, where they come together in hopes that Alabama prevails once again.

“This week that family is hurting, as their patriarch and grandfather passed away. Harry Henderson Ellis, known as ‘Papa’ to those that loved him, finally succumbed to illness after a lengthy battle. An Alabama fan at heart, Ellis served as the backbone for a family that grew up cheering the Crimson Tide.

“A man born from humble beginnings, ‘Papa’ strived for better, working at and then owning a feed store in Evergreen, Alabama. He only became an Alabama fan out of spite, choosing the Tide since many of his friends already rooted for Auburn.

“That simple decision changed a generation. The pride of Alabama grew from father to daughter, and then from daughter to children, a cycle seen in many SEC families. Papa’s daughter Rachel rooted for Alabama, and her son Adam attended college there. Rachel’s youngest daughter Amber needed less time, making her college choice at 10 years old. Alabama was their home.

“The Golsons now root for the Capstone as part of their daily lives, not knowing Papa’s defiance 50 years ago decided that very path.

“Late in his life, Papa often reflected on the ‘good ole days’ at Alabama, when Bear Bryant roamed the sidelines. His crowning moment as a fan happened in 1979, when he watched a ‘goal line stand’ at the Sugar Bowl, as Alabama defeated Penn State to capture a National Championship. His timing was legendary, with Adam claiming his Papa had never seen the Tide lose in person.

“Alabama was and still is the center of this family’s universe, a way to share special moments together. No one was more important than the team, evidenced by a story Amber told me about his 80th birthday party.

“’Alabama was playing Georgia that day,’ Amber told me. ‘I remember being specifically told not to come to his party,’ she added, ‘Instead I went to ESPN’s College Gameday set and held up a ‘Happy Birthday’ sign so he could see it.’”

“Papa’s daughter Rachel is like a second mother to me. I can’t tell you how many times Mrs. Golson (Rachel) fed me, gave me encouragement and reminded me that my dreams were in fact reachable. I think the world of her.

“Until this day, whenever I’m in town, I have to stop in and check on her. When I heard the news, I was overcome with emotion. I couldn't imagine the pain they were going through, and I felt helpless knowing there was little I could do to console them. What can you really say?

“During Papa’s final moments, the Tide helped eased the struggle. Just weeks before his life would end, he sat watching Alabama play with his daughter, the last of many moments they’d spent together doing that very task. One last time, the Crimson Tide would succeed. Behind the strength of a defense that reminded him of that 1979 squad, Alabama defeated Arkansas for a key conference win.

“Many fans say that SEC football is ‘life and death.’ Most times they don’t mean it. For Harry Ellis, Alabama football marked his life, and allows us to celebrate his death even more. Here’s hoping Saturday’s win over Vanderbilt makes you smile one more time sir.

“We will miss you Papa.”

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Here are my picks for this week’s slate of SEC football games. I like Alabama over Ole Miss, Auburn over Florida, LSU over Tennessee, South Carolina over Mississippi State and Georgia over Vanderbilt. Arkansas and Kentucky do not play. Last week: 5-1 (.833), Overall: 42-9 (.824).

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