Bill Ellis

November 16, 2004

Putnam community civic clubs joined the Chamber of Commerce today for their 10th Thanksgiving luncheon at Sleepy Hollow today.

Following the traditional group response "litany of thanksgiving," author and speaker Dr. William C. "Bill" Ellis mixed humor and nostalgia into an enumeration of blessings.

From early years on Cabin Creek, Ellis moved to Teays Valley where he completed Hurricane High School in a single year. "Of course," he admitted to Hurricane Interact students in attendance, "we moved here when I was a senior.

"All the people in my high school class have retired," said Ellis. "The only ones who must continue working day in and day out are myself and Jack Wilson." Wilson is the President of Putnam County Bank.

Ellis spoke about misfortunes in other parts of the country, disasters which for the most part have bypassed the Kanawha Valley. He mentioned the devastation of successive hurricanes at Warner Southern College in Florida where he serves on the Board of Directors.

Don't forget to be thankful for the many small blessings, Ellis admonished the group.

The Pilgrims had a difficult time their first year at Plymouth where they had gone in their quest for freedom to worship, said Ellis. "Sometimes they only had enough food to put five kernels of corn at each plate," he said, "but for those five kernels, they were thankful.

"Today in Teays Valley and Putnam County," said Ellis," I am thankful for the five kernels we have: (1) The revelation of God and his redeeming grace, (2) for family -- brothers, sisters, parents,children, grand children, and all the rest, (3) for the associations of care and service in our community -- doctors, accountants, engineers, teachers, ministers, realtors and all those who work so diligently in service of others with little pay, (4) for our schools and churches, and most of all (5) for the United States of America and for all the blessings of being an American."

Also participating in the Thanksgiving program were Marty Chapman (Chamber of Commerce), Don Broyles (Putnam Rotary), Bill Hensley (Lions Club), Ronda Moore (Kiwanis Club), Rev. Peter Faulkner (Peoples Baptist) and Dr. Dan Hogan (Forrest Burdette Methodist).