Ellis, 73, officiated on the high school and college levels for more than 20 years, then served as commissioner for the Peninsula officials association for almost 30 years. This past season, Ellis formed and ran the new Tidewater association.

"Nelson Ellis officiated because he loved and respected the game, not for money," Tabb coach Doug Baggett said. "You felt like he was a guy who you could call and talk to, and he would understand the point you were trying to make.

"His officials did a great job."

Kersey, who went on to referee for 36 seasons in the NBA and ABA, said Ellis' knack for developing talent is why his officials were so respected by area coaches.

"Nelson knew how to recognize talent," Kersey said. "He sent the best of the best to work the most important games, but he also sent the best of the young officials to work with veterans who served as mentors.

"He was like a coach who sees a special player and wants to recruit him, guide him and make him better. His recognized talent that would continue to make the association better, along with the veterans who were the foundation.

"That's how the association became so strong."

Steve Whitley, who succeeds Ellis as commissioner of the Tidewater association, agrees.

"His fairness and ability to judge officials, and put them in the right game, is what impressed me most," Whitley said. "A lot of people think they're ready for prime time.

"But Nelson just had that knack of knowing when it was time, and when someone was ready for a big game."

Ellis learned the hard way. He remembers cutting his teeth in the Peninsula District, when guys like Charlie Woollum (Newport News), Wilbur Thompson (Warwick) and Bob Shamblin (York) could be far tougher on a ref than Ellis ever was in the adult league.

"They used to have a scratch list," Ellis said, referring to a coach's option to bar one official from calling his school's games the next season. "I remember one coach telling me, 'Well, I won't be seeing you next season.'

"When I became commissioner (in the early 1980s) that scratch list was the first thing I got rid of. I learned you had to be able to referee a little bit to get the coaches' respect, but once you had their respect they were a lot easier to deal with."

Ellis said he learned to by modeling himself after the good refs, guys like Peninsula area sport legend Otis "Cootie" Almond.

"He could make a call from half court on a play under the basket and be right 99.9 percent of the time," Ellis said. "He had the best judgment of any official I ever saw."

By the late 1960s, Ellis was respected enough among his peers to get college assignments. His first one, a freshmen game — and unexpectedly the ensuing varsity game — between Virginia and George Washington was memorable.

"The second official for the varsity game was delayed by snow, so I was asked to help officiate that one," Ellis recalled. "The guy with me told me he was hearing that the George Washington coach would get fired if they lost.

"I wondered what the heck I'd gotten myself into. But at halftime, when the second official showed, the coaches called me back to the floor and said they wanted me to continue working the game.

"By the way, George Washington won."

Ellis became a regular in the Southern Conference and called an NCAA tournament game. He says he also was one of the first two white officials in the CIAA, the popular Division II conference of historically black colleges.

"Great experience," he said of the CIAA. "They treated us very well."

Following a knee injury in the early '80s, Ellis hung up his whistle to become commissioner of the Peninsula association of high school and recreation league officials. He built a lasting legacy, one that is growing with the debut this past season of the Tidewater association — the group that calls Bay Rivers District games.

"Nelson made the (Peninsula association) into a professional group because of his superb organizational skills," said   Horace Underwood ('61), a longtime area assistant principal and former referee. "He was very honest in his assessment of his referees, and they took his advice to heart and used it to get better."

Said    Ron Fowler ('60), a long-time area basketball official, "Nelson taught me to let the play complete itself before making a decision. Don't blow the whistle on what you think you're seeing."

Bobby Kipper, another long-time area official, added, "I learned from Nelson not to overcall and not read anything into the situation. Just let it happen and try to be as invisible as you can."

Kersey said that Ellis — who worked full-time more than 30 years as a banker — could have risen as high as he wanted as a basketball official. He added that the Peninsula was lucky that Ellis focused his efforts here.

"He's done so much for so many, and made the game of basketball and the profession of officiating stronger because of his input," Kersey said. "The local high schools, principals, athletic directors and coaches, even the players, will all miss Nelson Ellis."

Copyright © 2011, Newport News, Va., Daily Press