A lifelong resident of Xenia Township, Dr. Samuel Clarkson Ellis dedicated his life to both serve his country honorably, and to make Greene County a better and healthier place to live.
After obtaining his medical degree at Ohio State through Army R.O.T.C., Dr. Ellis was first called to active duty in December 1940. He was deployed to Casablanca, Morocco, and served in the Tunisian Campaign, Army 2nd Corps. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel, and appointed Commanding Officer of the 57th Station Hospital in Algeria and Tunisia, serving the Air Force and Naval Bases there. Dr. Ellis was then assigned as Surgeon Mediterranean Base Section at Casablanca, Morocco, and as Commanding Officer of the 56th Station Hospital. For his service, Dr. Ellis was awarded the Order of Ouissan Alaouite by the Sultan of Morocco for his work in eradicating the bubonic plague in Casablanca. He received letters of appreciation from General Mast, General of France in Tunisia, and the Director of Public Health in Morocco. He was then appointed Surgeon of North African Service Command under African Middle Eastern Theatre of Operations, and promoted to Colonel.
Upon his return home, he resumed his medical practice life with his wife, Elizabeth, and three sons. Dr. Ellis was a founding partner of Medical Associates, one of the first group medical practices in the United States. Dr. Ellis was also one of the founding physicians of Greene Memorial Hospital. In addition to his private practice, he provided care to the children of the Ohio Soldier’s & Sailor’s Home, the employees of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and GCPH’s Well-Baby Clinic.
A devout Quaker, Dr. Ellis was an active member of many charitable and religious organizations. Other than of his family, Dr. Ellis was probably most proud of working to end segregation in Xenia Schools.