Jacques Ellison died peacefully on Feb. 4, in his home in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Jacques was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Jan. 10, 1924. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. from 1942 to 1945. After World War II, Ellison received his degree in journalism at the University of Tulsa. He shifted into public relations and worked for the University of Tulsa, The American Petroleum Institute, Martin Wright & Associates and Brock Hall Dairy Co.
In 1963, while looking at a map of national parks, he spotted the Virgin Islands and loaded up the family and left for a camping trip on St. John. They never went home again. He went to work for the Daily News as advertising manager. In 1964, he ventured onward, working with another advertising agency and forming Ellison Associates, a public relations firm. He produced the first daily live television show, “The Pueblo Show” for WBNB. He also served as a late night TV newscaster. Jacques was a consultant to Governor Melvin Evans during the period Gov. Evans went from the territory’s last appointed governor to the first elected governor.
In 1972 he began work as director of Public Relations and Advertising for the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation (VITELCO), a company owned by ITT. He was given recognition by ITT by winning the worldwide competition for ITT’s Quality Award for public relations in 1985. He retired from the company in July 1990.
Jacques’ belief in and commitment to community service was legendary. Among his activities in the Virgin Islands: charter member St. Thomas Lions Club; Rotary Club of St. Thomas, president 1989-1990; Virgin Islands Toastmasters, founder and first president; St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, vice president and director; St. Croix Chamber of Commerce; Virgin Islands Boy Scouts of America; Special Olympics, V.I., director; Volunteers for the Visually Handicapped; St. Thomas-St. John Navy League; Advertising Club of St. Thomas; American Legion; St. Thomas Yacht Club; St. Thomas Reformed Church; Harmonic Lodge; Knights Templar; V.I. and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Following his retirement, he moved back to the mainland and continued to stay active in Rotary and other local civic organizations.
He is survived by his wife, Ellie; sons: Chris, Tim and Dan Ellison; Peter Polesky; four grandchildren; and brother, James Ellison of Tulsa, Okla.
A memorial service will take place in Charlottesville, Va. The date will be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society of St. Thomas, 7041 Estate Nadir No. 26, St. Thomas, USVI 00802.
