A native of Springfield, Ohio, born on April 19, 1950, William R. Ellis, Jr. was called to be with the Lord on June 21, 2024, at Akron City Summa Hospital.

Willam, or Bill as he preferred to be called, was the oldest of four children from William R. Ellis Sr. and Rosemary (Johnson) Ellis.  He attended school in Youngstown, Ohio, graduating from South High School in 1969 and attended Youngstown State University graduating in 1973. There Bill joined Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and met and fell in love with Florida Eiland whom he married on December 22, 1973. Bill and Florida were married for 37 years until her death in 2011.

Bill and Florida moved to Akron, Ohio in 1974 where Bill attended the University of Akron’s Law school in 1974, after which he decided law was not his passion, but journalism was. He changed his career path and went to work full-time for his father, William Ellis Sr., at The Reporter Newspaper. He worked diligently for the paper, becoming the City Editor and eventually assuming the helm of Editor and Publisher in 1990.

Bill has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to community service. As a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Eagle Scout, Bill served as BSA presidential honor guard at President Richard Nixon’s Inauguration in 1968. He mentored as a BSA Scoutmaster in Portage and Mahoning counties and as a YMCA aquatic at the Youngstown West Federal Street YMCA.

William R. Ellis, Jr. poured his heart and soul into The Reporter Newspaper as the editor/publisher, proudly attending/covering many functions. During his lifetime, he was active in various organizations including his fraternity Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, NNPA, NAACP, Past High Priest of Zerubbabel Chapter #40 Royal Arch Masons, Black Professionals of Cleveland (BPA), 100 Black Men of Greater Akron, Copley Road Merchants Association in  Akron, President of the Cleveland Minority Publishers’ Association and national volunteer sales representative for Black Media Inc. (a coalition of national weekly black newspapers).

He has received many awards and accolades, including the first newspaper journalist inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2009, the Ohio Public Images Award of Merit in 2012, and the  Robert G. McGruder Appreciation Award in 2013.

Bill enjoyed doting on his daughters, grandchildren, great-grandson, nieces and nephews, attending family reunions, listening to jazz, and  talking with his friends and fraternity brothers. He also enjoyed attending functions that uplifted the community, and loved a spirited conversation about history, local/national news, and politics.

William R. Ellis Jr leaves behind: daughters, Anitra Bailey (spouse Ransford Bailey) and Chantée Ellis; siblings, Valanta Brown (spouse Michael Brown – deceased), Rhetta Jo Williams, and Carlton Ellis (spouse Danielle Ellis; children, Brea and Darnell); grandchildren, Ransford Bailey Jr. (spouse Aziza Bomani-Bailey), Jasmine Bailey (significant other Andre Belcher), Jaelynn Bailey, and Amira Bailey; great grandson, Shyloh Belcher; beloved nieces and nephews include Tennille Harris, Michael Brown (spouse Monique Brown; children, Michael Brown III and Londyn Brown); Eddie Williams, Sierra Williams and Jena Brown (child Ausar); along with his sister-in-law, Audrey Eiland and her children, Courtney Eiland (child Caidence) and Whitley Eiland (children Corvayh Eiland, Camden Eiland and Caileigh Eiland); cousin, Kim Ellis (children Kimmel and Crystal); a host of Eiland brothers and sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends.

He will be greatly missed by family and the community.