Johnny Ellis

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Johnny Ellis

|image = Johnny Ellis (a).jpg

|caption = Ellis in 2013

|office = Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate

|term_start = January 19, 2009

|term_end = January 18, 2011

|predecessor = Gary Stevens

|successor = Kevin Meyer

|state_senate1 = Alaska

|district1 = I

|term_start1 = January 15, 2013

|term_end1 = January 14, 2017

|predecessor1 = Redistricted

|successor1 = Tom Begich

|state_senate2 = Alaska

|district2 = L

|term_start2 = January 20, 2003

|term_end2 = January 15, 2013

|predecessor2 = Randy Phillips

|successor2 = Redistricted

|state_senate3 = Alaska

|district3 = H

|term_start3 = January 11, 1993

|term_end3 = January 20, 2003

|predecessor3 = Pat Pourchot

|successor3 = Scott Ogan

|state_house4 = Alaska

|district4 = 12B

|term_start4 = January 19, 1987

|term_end4 = January 11, 1993

|predecessor4 = Donald Clocksin

|successor4 = Constituency abolished

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{birth date|1960|03|13}}

|birth_place = Springfield, Missouri, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|2022|02|09|1960|03|13}}

|death_place = Harrison, Arkansas, U.S.

|party = Democratic

|education = Claremont McKenna College (BA)

}}

Johnny Ellis (March 13, 1960 – February 9, 2022) was an American politician who served as a member of the Alaska Senate from 1992 to 2017. He was previously a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1986 through 1992.

Early life and education

Ellis was born in Springfield, Missouri, and moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1975.{{Cite web|date=2008-09-01|title=Senator Ellis|url=http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/senate/ell.php|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901201505/http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/senate/ell.php|archive-date=2008-09-01}} Ellis was an Eagle Scout. After graduating from Bartlett High School (Anchorage, Alaska) in 1978, he attended the University of Alaska Anchorage for one year before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College in 1982.

Career

Ellis served as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993. He was then elected to the Alaska Senate, representing the H district from 1993 to 2003. Ellis represented the L district from 2003 to 2013 and the I district from 2013 to 2017. From 2009 to 2011, Ellis served as majority leader of the Senate. Outside of politics, Ellis was a commissioner of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and operated several small businesses.{{Cite web|title=100 Years of Alaska's Legislature – Johnny Ellis|url=http://100years.akleg.gov/bio.php?id=699|access-date=2021-03-26|website=100years.akleg.gov}}

Personal life and death

In 2016, Ellis spoke publicly about his health issues, including battles with prostate cancer, and multiple sclerosis. He also came out as gay.{{cite web|last1=Wohlforth|first1=Charles|title=Sen. Johnny Ellis sacrificed his private life for public service|url=https://www.adn.com/opinions/2016/11/16/sen-johnny-ellis-sacrificed-his-private-life-for-public-service/|work=Alaska Dispatch News|date=17 November 2016|accessdate=17 November 2016}}

Ellis died on February 9, 2022, at the age of 61.{{cite news |last1=Ruskin |first1=Liz |title=Former state Sen. Johnny Ellis has died |url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/2022/02/10/former-state-sen-johnny-ellis-has-died/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |publisher=Alaska Public Media |date=10 February 2022}}