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    Honorees  

Bartholomew Applegate Ellis

• Toms River High School
• Class of 1927
• Inducted in 1990

Not only was Bart Ellis an outstanding college athlete, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Colgate in 1933.

He was also an outstanding scholar/athlete while attending Toms River High School, graduating in 1927 as Salutatorian. During these years, residents of Island Heights attended Toms River High School. During his high school years, he played football for four years, baseball for three (including being captain his senior year), as well as being a track star and team captain in that sport.

During his high school and college years, Mr. Ellis worked for his father Royal Ellis, a local building contractor, served as a lifeguard in Seaside Heights, and taught sailing at the Island Heights Yacht Club.

From 1933-1940, Mr. Ellis taught math at Hillside High School where he was first an assistant and later head football coach. His team was New Jersey State Champions in 1937 and 1940. From 1941-1972, he taught math, and as line coach at Westfield High School, led the team to state championships in 1941, 1943, 1944, and 1945. During his years as a teacher/coach, Mr. Ellis also officiated at track events as well as swimming and diving.

In 1940, Mr. Ellis earned a master's degree in education from Rutgers University.

Mr. Ellis has been active in community affairs, which he couples with his interests in sailing (active member BBYRA) and swimming. He is a charter member of the Island Heights First Aid Squad (active for 20 years) and a trustee of the Island Heights Library. During the 1970s, he lobbied with the American Littoral Society and the Ocean Mammal Stranding Center of Brigantine to preserve wetlands off Dillons Creek from development.

Retired in 1972, Mr. Ellis is working on a geneology of the Applegate, Smith, and Ellis families in Ocean County.