Buckhannon in Upshur County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Franklin C. "Hank" Ellis

October 6, 2018

Photographed by Bradley Owen, February 24, 2025

1. Franklin C. "Hank" Ellis Marker

Inscription.
Mr. Ellis was born in Bluefield, WV, on August 18, 1921. Hank served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1942 until his retirement in 1967 as a Lieutenant Commander. He was the Commanding Officer on the USS LCT 710 from May of 1944 through March of 1945 where he carried cargo from large ships to & across the beaches of Normandy. He made the D-Day landing on Utah Beach, Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. In June of 1945, he was the gunnery officer on the USS-LCI 728 in Pearl Harbor. Hank returned to Normandy for the 20th reunion of D-Day in 1964, the 50th reunion in 1994, & the 60th reunion in 2004. He was awarded the French Legion Medal of Honor in 2015 by the French government.

Hank graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1939, & then received his bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1943. Mr. Ellis received his master's degree from West Virginia University in 1947. Hank was a professional basketball player for the Wheeling Blues from 1947-50, & served as a member of the U.S. Olympic basketball committee from 1969-72. He coached & taught at Martins Ferry High School in Ohio in 1949. In 1950,

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Hank returned to WVWC where he coached & taught health & physical education from 1950-90. Serving as our college's head basketball coach, he amassed 303 victories. As the head baseball coach his teams earned 298 wins. Hank also served as the head football coach & head cross country coach, & later as Athletic Director at WVWC.

On April 30, 1986, our college baseball field that this sign is shadowed by, was named in his honor. Hank was inducted into the Buckhannon-Upshur Sports Hall of Fame, the WV Sports Hall of Fame, & the WVWC Sports Hall of Fame. Simply stated, Hank Ellis was one of if not the most decorated athletes, coaches, & sports legends in the history of our Buckhannon-Upshur Community & West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Hank Ellis further dedicated his life to service as evidenced by his being a life member of Buckhannon VFW Post #3663 & the Frank B. Bartlett American Legion Post #7. He was a member of the Franklin Lodge #7 AF & M with a Master Mason 50 year pin. Hank further was a 50 year member of the Buckhannon Lions Club. He was an active parishioner in the First United Methodist Church of Buckhannon for decades.

Hank

Photographed by Bradley Owen, February 24, 2025

2. Franklin C. "Hank" Ellis Marker

Marker is on the right.

Ellis died on October 29, 2015, survived by his son Frank "Hank" Ellis, & his two daughters, Cheri Ellis Green & Jeanne Ellis Zickefoose. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 64 years, Ruth Alice Sherrard Ellis, in 2009. Our Buckhannon-Upshur & West Virginia Wesleyan College communities shall always be mindful of the long & lasting legacy of Hank Ellis, who positively impacted thousands of young lives during his lengthy & distinguished tenure at WVWC.

The Poundstone-Ellis Legacies' Plaza was dedicated by the City of Buckhannon & West Virginia Wesleyan College during WVWC's homecoming weekend

Erected 2018 by The City of Buckhannon and West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Sports • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1945.

Location. 38° 59.487′ N, 80° 12.914′ W. Marker is in Buckhannon, West Virginia, in Upshur County. It is at the intersection of Camden Avenue and Railroad Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Camden Avenue. Marker is located on the south side of Hank Ellis Field. Touch for map. Marker

Hank Ellis Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, February 24, 2025

3. Hank Ellis Field

Marker is at the right of the brown sign.

is at or near this postal address: 52 Camden Avenue, Buckhannon WV 26201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Central West Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Elizabeth J. "Binky" Poundstone (here, next to this marker); Castanea dentata x mollissima (Dunstan chestnut) (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bob Wallace Bridge (about 700 feet away); The Tannery (about 700 feet away); Baptisia australis (blue false indigo) (about 700 feet away); Hydrangea arborescens (wild hydrangea) (about 800 feet away); Ulmus americana (American elm) (about 800 feet away); Prunus serotina (black cherry) (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buckhannon.

Additional Marker At This Location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, February 24, 2025

4. Additional Marker At This Location

Franklin C. "Hank" Ellis Field

Player, Coach, Teacher from 1939-1985. Forty six years of commitment to West Virginia Wesleyan College as a basketball star, coach of basketball, baseball, football and cross-country qualifies "Hank" as one of the foundation blocks of the college.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 5, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.