John Ellis was to Barnstable High School Track & Field in the late-1970s what Babe Ruth was to the New York Yankees in the 1920s -- he was the cornerstone of the program.

    In that time, Ellis was twice the recipient of the Dennis-Yarmouth Invitiational All-Cape Track & Field Meet Knute Andersson Memorial Trophy, the most prestigious regional honor bestowed on high school track & field athletes.

    He set class records each year in both the shotput and discus at BHS, completing his dominance in shotput by setting the all-time school record at 59'6" in his senior campaign in 1977.

    Track & Field aside, Ellis was a virtual one-man wrecking crew ont he offensive line for the BHS Red Raiders and he has played a key role in the formation, integration and perpetuation of the weight-training program at BHS since his graduation 30 years ago.

     A co-captain at the University of Rhode Island in football, Ellis had a brief stint with the New England Patriots upon graduation.

    Ellis is one of those rare individuals who remains to this day deeply involved in the athletic improvement of Barnstable athletes to this day and he is not only the son of a former Red Raider all-time football great -- Jim "Butch" Ellis -- but he is the father of two Red Raider gridiron captains -- Erik and C.J.

     This BHS dyed-in-the-wool student-athlete was inducted into the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov. 24, 2006.