Former WRAL News reporter 'Dick' Ellis dies at 78

Richard Earl “Dick” Ellis died on Saturday at the age of 78.

Ellis worked at WRAL as a reporter for five years in the 1970s after returning home from the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Drafted into the United States Army in November 1966, Ellis was sent to Fort Bragg for basic training, then six months later he was on the way to Vietnam where he served with the American Forces Vietnam Network. His work as a weatherman and producer for “Bobbi the Weather Girl” caused the Viet Cong to put a reward on his head, like the other TV personalities.

He also acted as combat correspondent and photographer on weekends and traveled to almost every province in Vietnam.

Ellis worked for various politicians after leaving WRAL, including Jim Holshouser, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr. and Chief Justice Beverly Lake Jr.

Ellis served as the chaplain of a local VFW post and a member of the American Legion and was a member of various organizations including the Raleigh Masonic Lodge Hiram #40, the Wake County Shrine Club, we he served on their Board of Directors and various positions with the Boys Scouts of America Occoneechee Council.

After Ellis' retirement at 75, he served as campaign manager for Supreme Court Associate Justice Phil Berger, Jr.

Ellis loved NASCAR. In addition, he enjoyed working in his workshop making various items from custom-made hunting knives to tin can Christmas trains to marshmallow guns,

Ellis also enjoyed cooking, hosting parties, hunting rabbits in Harnett County, fishing with friends in Johnston County and bourbon.

A memorial Pig Pickin' will be held at his home in Raleigh in the spring instead of a funeral.

Ellis' last request is for everyone to get a colonoscopy before it is too late.

Ellis is survived by his daughter Annette Rogers, grandchildren Reed and Charlotte, Cindy Ellis Waters, and countless friends around the world.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be sent to It’s Our Time, a non-profit. You may use the donate button on the site, or send to It’s Our time, Dick Ellis Memorial Fund at 3513 Old Post Road, Raleigh, NC, 27612.

To see his memorial page, go to www.itsourtime.org/DickEllis. Donations in his memory will be used to develop a program to support boys and their single mothers.