Eller's friends and family
proud of his many
achievements
BY LAYLA GARMS
THE CHRONICLE
City native Carl
"Moose" Eller received
more than a few accolades
over the course of his sto
ried 15-year NFL career.
A first round draft pick
in 1964, the Atkins High
School alumnus was select
ed to play in six Pro Bowls,
made four Super Bowl
appearances, holds the all
time record for sacks in
Minnesota Vikings history
and was named the NFL's
Defensive Player of the
Year in 1971. The former
defensive end was inducted
into the Pro Football Hall
of Fame in 2004 and the
College Football Hall of
Fame in 2006, but that did
n't stop the butterflies in
Eller's stomach when he
returned home to his home
town to pick up one more
award.
"Over my lifetime, I've
given many (acceptance)
speeches," Eller remarked,
"...but none of them are
more important or exciting
than this honor I'm receiv
ing today to come back to
my old high school to be
with family and friends,
people who knew me way
back when."
Allstate insurance and
the Pro Football Hall of
Fame honored the 71 year
old father of three with a
Hometown Hall of Famers
plaque during a March 5
ceremony at Atkins
Academic and Technology
High School on Old
Greensboro Road. The
plaque, which denotes
Eller's many accomplish
ments in the League, was
presented as part of a
national effort to honor
football's greatest players,
coaches and contributors in
the places where their lega
cies began.
Eller told the audience
of students, faculty, family
members and fellow alum
ni that he is proud of his
hometown.
"I'm very proud of
being from Winston-Salem
and I've never forgotten my
roots because that's where
it all started."
he declared.
"...I'm really
glad to see all
of you here.
What a great
group of peo
ple. It's just
wonderful to
see that they
have con
tributed and
helped to build
up not just
Htttit Smith
Atkins High School, but all
of Winston-Salem."
Eller's oldest child.
Cinder Eller, joined Eller's
aunt Elizabeth Scott and
cousin Linda Cole of
Winston-Salem at the cere
mony.
"It's an honor," the
longtime Los Angeles resi
dent said of the plaque.
"I'm so excited that this
will stay in the school. It's
history, and it's something
that our family can be
proud of."
Scott, a city native, said
watching Eller progress
from a hulking youth to an
NFL sensation was a surre
al experience for her.
"I can't describe it
because I never thought it
would come to this. It's
been beautiful," she relat
ed. "...When he was
inducted into the Hall of
Fame in Akron (Ohio), we
didn't get a chance to go,
so I thought it would be a
great honor just to be here
to support him and let him
know that we are proud of
the achievements he has
made down through his
life."
Cole. Scott's daughter
and Eller's first cousin, said
Photos by Layla Garms
Carl "Moose" Ellis poses with his daughter, Cinder Ellis, and the plaque com
memorating his career that is now on display at Atkins.
tiler s first cousin,
Linda Cole (left) and
aunt, Eliizabeth Scott. L
Atkins Athletic Director Linwood Jeraid takes advan
tage of a photo opportunity with the former Camel.
she relished watching Eller
excel on the field all those
years ago. The Winston
Salem State University
employee said Eller had
expressed his excitement
about the event, and she
wanted to be there to root
him on, just like in the old
days.
"He was just so
enthused about receiving
this honor that we knew he
would appreciate
our being here,
and it was fun to
see all the stu
dents," said the
Anderson alum
na.
The Atkins
football team
showed their
respect for Eller
by donning their
jerseys at the cer
emony. and Eller
said he was glad to see the
old Atkins Camel mascot
has remained a pari of the
school's legacy.
"Thank you for contin
uing that tradition. It's a
very proud and strong tra
dition that you guys are fol
lowing," the University of
Minnesota alumnus told
current players. "Take
great, great pride in that."
Camel pride ran deep in
the audience, as evidenced
by the presence of folks
like Kirby Thompson, who,
like Eller, was a member of
the school's Class of 1960.
The two were only
acquaintances in high
school, but that didn't stop
Thompson, a retired proba
tion officer, from support
ing his former classmate,
whom he says belonged to
an elite group of athletes
that helped to set the school
apart from the crowd.
"We were known all
over the nation. Atkins
High School was a nation
ally known black high
school," he recalled. "Even
though we came from dif
ferent sections of town and
we were not always social
with each other, today, it's
like one big family."
Eller's former team
mate, Hessie Smith, has
many fond memories of his
high school football days
and the camaraderie mem
bers of the team shared.
Even in those days, Eller
put in long hours on the
practice field, staying on
long after the others had
headed for the showers, but
his success didn't stop at
the football field. Eller was
also a shot put player, a
member of the drum corps
and president of his senior
class. Smith reported.
"We loved football, we
loved each other and we
got along well," he said.
"...Eller was more than a
football player, he was a
good student."
Fellow 1960 alumnus
Anthony Scales said he
jumped at the chance to be
in the number at the cere
mony last week.
"Of course I wanted to
come here as a classmate
and friend," said Scales,
who added that he followed
Eller's NFL career closely.
"It's a great honor for him _
and it's a great honor for
the kids here to meet him to
meet somebody from this
area who has been success
ful. These are the types of
role models they need."
The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest
H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published
every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing
Co. Inc., 617 N. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, N.C
27101. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C.
Annual subscription price is $30.72.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Chronicle, PO. Box 1636
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636
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