Ellis is honored for service to W.S. Neal

Last Friday, family members, friends, former co-workers and members of the Escambia County (Ala.) School Board gathered at W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton to dedicate the Phillip Ellis Livestock Barn in honor of the former agriculture teacher and principal, Phillip Ellis, who spent 37 years in the education system.

Principal Todd Williamson, a former student who took agriculture classes from Ellis, considers him one of his favorite mentors and most influential of his career.

"Ellis spent more than 37 years at W.S. Neal High School," said Williamson. "His entire career was here. He came here as an ag teacher straight out of Auburn (University). He taught for more than 17 years in the classroom and then became principal here for 20 years."

Williamson said Ellis loved the calves and wanted to do this for years, but said it took a long time for this to happen.

"It couldn't be more appropriate that it be named in his honor," he said. "He was my teacher, friend, mentor and a lot of others. Many people will tell you they are who they are because of something he instilled in them. That's the reason we are here today."

Williamson said Ellis built a great program at the school that has carried and that even though there have been a lot of ag teachers since Ellis, he set the bar. He joked that he wasn't sure if he should be doing this dedication and that he didn't know if he should be mad or not.

"Back then, when I was in school, I had no intention of being a school teacher or principal," said Williamson. "I had no ambition to be a school teacher or principal, that was the furthest thing from my mind, but he wouldn't leave it alone. He is the reason I am here."

The facility was paid for with monies from several grants and local donations from Gulf Coast RC&D, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Bondurant Lumber, State Rep. Alan Baker, Escambia County Commissioner Raymond Wiggins, parents and local farmers. The interior was built by students and is one of the few in Alabama located on school campus.

The facility currently houses 22 cows which students feed, groom and take care of until the sale. Students come to take care of their cows on Saturdays, too, and are currently preparing for competitions in March. Some will sell their cows and profit up to $1,000. Others will pay farmers after the sale whom they've 'borrowed' cows from.

Agriscience teacher Josh Coleman leads middle and high schoolers who are not only learning about livestock and careers in agriculture, but getting critical life skills as well. "Responsibility, hard work, managing finances. They're responsible for getting their own buyers. Most of these kids have never been around cows or calves." Coleman says teaching the class in an outdoor setting is really enjoyable. "It's different, it's not in the classroom, not standing up in front of a class lecturing. It's outside, hands on."