Eastern Michigan Athletics
E-Club Hall of Fame Member Dave Ellis Passes Away
2/19/2026 5:32:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, E-Club
Ellis was an EMU men's track student-athlete
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University E-Club Hall of Famer David Ellis passed away Feb. 7, 2026, at the age of 88. Ellis was inducted into the EMU E-Club Hall of Fame in 1986 following a standout career as one of the most accomplished distance runners in program history.
A native of Louth, England, Ellis became the first great distance runner under Coach Parks and was one of only two runners in program history to earn All-American honors four times in the NAIA. He captured six NAIA individual track titles and finished among the top 10 twice at the National AAU meet.
Ellis earned a silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the 1967 Pan American Games and represented Canada at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, competing in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter events. He finished 25th in the 10,000-meter final and held the Canadian record in the event for several years. His top performances included times of 14:10.44 in the 5,000 meters, 4:05 in the mile, 8:44.44 in the two mile, and 29:20.04 in the 10,000 meters.
Ellis also placed sixth at the 1966 Boston Marathon in 2:19:47 and earned multiple Canadian national titles during his competitive career. He trained alongside Canadian marathon great Jerome Drayton under coach Paul Poce at the Toronto Olympic Club.
After retiring from competition in the early 1970s, Ellis continued to shape the sport. In 1975, he founded The Runners Shop in Port Credit, Ontario, one of Canada's oldest independent running stores. The business later moved to Bloor Street in 1976 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025.
Ellis is survived by his wife, Marjorie.
A native of Louth, England, Ellis became the first great distance runner under Coach Parks and was one of only two runners in program history to earn All-American honors four times in the NAIA. He captured six NAIA individual track titles and finished among the top 10 twice at the National AAU meet.
Ellis earned a silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the 1967 Pan American Games and represented Canada at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, competing in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter events. He finished 25th in the 10,000-meter final and held the Canadian record in the event for several years. His top performances included times of 14:10.44 in the 5,000 meters, 4:05 in the mile, 8:44.44 in the two mile, and 29:20.04 in the 10,000 meters.
Ellis also placed sixth at the 1966 Boston Marathon in 2:19:47 and earned multiple Canadian national titles during his competitive career. He trained alongside Canadian marathon great Jerome Drayton under coach Paul Poce at the Toronto Olympic Club.
After retiring from competition in the early 1970s, Ellis continued to shape the sport. In 1975, he founded The Runners Shop in Port Credit, Ontario, one of Canada's oldest independent running stores. The business later moved to Bloor Street in 1976 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025.
Ellis is survived by his wife, Marjorie.
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