January 28, 1998
Long-time Texas A&M men's golf coach Bob Ellis will be inducted into the National Golf Coaches Hall of Fame by the Golf Coaches Association of America on Thursday in Orlando, Fla.
In his 24th season at A&M, the 56-year-old Ellis is a four-time Southwest Conference coach of the year and led A&M to SWC titles in 1982 and 1987. His teams have finished in the top 25 nationally 13 times, including four top 10 finishes. In 1996, the Aggies captured the NCAA Central Regional title in Ann Arbor, Mich.
In 23 years of SWC competition, Ellis's teams finished fourth or better 17 times, including four runner-up finishes and three third-place finishes. Last year, A&M finished third at the NCAA Central Regional and placed 13th at the NCAA Championships in Chicago.
Ellis's players have earned 27 All-America citations and have been named all-conference 40 times. Four of his players won individual SWC championships and many have gone on to successful careers in professional golf, including PGA Tours stars Jeff Maggert and David Ogrin. In 1995, he coached the American team to victory at the World Junior Championships in Japan.
"Churchill in the Battle of Britain said 'never in the course of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.' In my case, never has one person owed so much to so many," Ellis said. "I want to thank the Lord for his strength, my wife for her love, my children for their support, my peers for their counsel, Texas A&M for the opportunity and the committee for the honor. Most important, I want to thank all of my players for their accomplishments. This is a humbling experience for me when you consider the individuals in the hall of fame and it's highly rewarding since it is voted by my peers."
Ellis began his golf career as an 11-year-old caddy at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill. Four years later, he was operating a driving range there. After finishing his prep career at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., Ellis joined Labron Harris's Oklahoma State team as a walk-on. He eventually earned a scholarship and helped the Cowboys win the 1963 NCAA title. The legendary Harris, also a hall of fame member, later said, "Bob Ellis has the two greatest requirements needed to reach the top - hard work and honesty. His integrity is beyond reproach."
After graduating from OSU in 1964, Ellis spent three years as head professional at South Hills Country Club in Fond du Lac, Wisc., and one year at Tuckaway Country Club in Milwaukee. After that, he opened a golf instructional shop in Stuart, Fla., developing state-of-the-art video training techniques. He accepted the head coaching job at A&M in the fall of 1974.
Ellis is married to the former Elizabeth Puchert and they have five children - Karen, Joyce, Debbie, Robert and Peter. The Ellis's have four grandchildren.