A moment of silence was held at Thursday night’s Unified Government Commission meeting for former Commissioner Benoyd “Butch” Ellison.
Ellison, 79, a former UG commissioner and an educator in Kansas City, Kansas, died Feb. 13.
Ellison played on the University of Kansas varsity basketball team in the 1960s, and was named an All-American Basketball Player in 1958 at KCKCC.
Before retirement, he was an instructor and administrator for 37 years in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools. He was an administrator at Washington High School and was also a former director of the Kansas City, Kansas, Model Cities Program.
Ellison graduated from Sumner High School and received an associate degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas in 1962, and his Master of Science in Education Administration from KU in 1972.
He served as a UG commissioner from 2001 through 2013.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Thatcher Funeral Home.
Sad loss to us all!
Butch was the vice principal at Washington High School when I was a student. I had no idea of his basketball background and accomplishments until today. Rest in Peace Vice Principal Ellison.
Mr Ellison you will be missed. And you will never be forgotten. You touched every life you came into contact with with hopes of a better life or situations of us kids. You were our protector and our friend, as well as kicked us in the butt when we needed it. I’m a legacy at WHS and you’ve touched more than my life, my whole family. 1990