Hall of Fame
L.M. Ellis was the first black basketball player to play at Austin Peay. In fact, he not only was the first black to play at the school, Ellis as well was the first black basketball player signed to play in the Ohio Valley Conference – breaking a longstanding color barrier. He transferred from Drake to his hometown school in January 1962, sitting out a year according to transfer rules before becoming eligible the following January. As a trailblazer, the 6-5 forward averaged 9.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in 13 games in that shortened junior season, Austin Peay’s first in the OVC. As a senior, Ellis averaged 6.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. In 1965, Ellis received a tryout from the St. Louis Hawks. As a prepster playing for Dave Whitney, he led Clarksville’s Burt Cobb High School to the 1961 district, regional, state and National Negro High School championships. Ellis was named team MVP by The Leaf Chronicle newspaper. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Spring 1965, Ellis served in the managerial field of some of the nation’s top chain merchandising stores, including stops in St. Louis, Chicago and Atlanta. Currently an independent contractor, he serves as a liquidation retail consultant in Glassboro, NJ.
