In Remembrance

     "On March 4, 2007 my best friend Ellis F. Porch, III collapsed during the Seaside Half Marathon and two days later passed away. Many, in fact, most of you, did not know Ellis Porch so I would like to share my thoughts about him with you. Ellis lived in Birmingham, Alabama and was 30 years old; he was married and had one son that shares his name. He was an accomplished runner having finished second at the Seaside Half Marathon in 2005 and 2006. Though he excelled at races of any distance, he enjoyed the marathon the most. His personal best in the marathon was 2:38:11 which he ran at the Boston Marathon in 2006; he was planning on running a 2:35 this year. Despite being a fierce competitor, Ellis always ran with a smile, perhaps more of a grin, on his face. This was particularly true when he toed the line partnered with his son in a baby jogger. He once ran a 4 mile race in 22 minutes and a 15k race in 54 minutes, both while pushing his son. When he raced with his son I would remind him that he was actually the runner up as his son actually crossed the finish line ahead of him.

     That all being said, it is important to note that while Ellis loved running, this was not his life. He was an excellent father and loving husband. Ellis loved spending time with his immediate and extended family. This was a frequent topic of conversation during our daily runs. And though the demands of work, family and running were often a heavy burden, Ellis always appeared to have found the right balance and recognized the relative importance of each.

     And one cannot speak about Ellis without also mentioning football, specifically the Alabama Crimson Tide. Having grown up someplace where football was only a sport, Ellis educated me regarding an aspect of football I had never conceived. As with his running and his family, Ellis was devoted to his team and spoke of it with a fondness often reserved for those very special things in life. I believe that this fondness reflects the fact that, to him, Alabama football was synonymous with family. Saturday's in the fall were spent with those people who were important to him; his wife, son, father, and grandparents, among others.

     There are many more things I could share with you about Ellis, but hopefully this little bit paints a picture of who he was. He meant a lot to a great many people and the world is a lesser place without him around. Ellis will be remembered for being a truly great person, and I believe he left us all with an important lesson: live, love, give."