[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 13, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E76]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             HAL ELLIS JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 13, 2009

  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary life and accomplishments of Mr. Hal Ellis, Jr. Mr. Ellis 
contributed immeasurably to the development and economic growth of the 
9th Congressional District. He was a devoted community leader, creative 
and innovative entrepreneur, and a great source of support and 
encouragement to those who knew him. Our community said goodbye to Hal 
on January 6, 2009, after a courageous five-year battle with metastatic 
melanoma.
  Hal Ellis was born on August 4, 1931 to Harold and Bertha Ellis in 
Portland, Oregon. However, his family moved to Oakland, California just 
two years later in 1933. For this reason, and as a result of the 
endless dedication and compassion Mr. Ellis exhibited for the Oakland 
community throughout his life, everyone considered Hal a native 
``Oaklander.''
  Hal graduated from Piedmont High School in 1949 and received a 
Bachelors Degree from the prestigious University of California, 
Berkeley in 1953. He was a member of the legendary 1951 and 1952 Cal 
Bears football teams under the leadership of Coach Pappy Waldorf, 
affectionately known as ``Pappy's Boys.'' While at Cal, Mr. Ellis also 
served as President of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. In 1955, Mr. 
Ellis graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and then 
went on to serve his country for two years in the United States Air 
Force as an intelligence officer stationed in Morocco.
  Mr. Ellis was ambitious and driven from a very young age. In 1958, at 
the age of 27, Mr. Ellis co-founded Grubb & Ellis Co. along with his 
business partners Don and John Grubb. Mr. Ellis guided the company as 
its Chairman and CEO, bringing others up with him as he led the company 
through countless successful ventures. In the following decades, Mr. 
Ellis would become one of the most prolific and iconic real estate 
developers in the Greater Bay Area.
  Mr. Ellis directly oversaw the growth of his company from a small 
Oakland development firm into a national diversified real estate 
company. Most influential to the lives of residents in my district, the 
work that Mr. Ellis' company performed and the vision Mr. Ellis had for 
the architectural and urban integrity of our area dramatically reshaped 
downtown Oakland, California. Nationally, his company would grow to 
such influence that it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. 
Ellis' keen business sense and tireless dedication elevated his company 
to the prominent position as the largest independently owned, publicly 
traded real estate firm in the United States. Today, the company boasts 
130 offices world-wide.
  Sixteen years ago, Mr. Ellis co-founded Ellis Partners LLC with his 
daughter, Melinda and his son, James. Ellis Partners LLC has, in its 
own right, become one of California's largest commercial developers and 
investors. Hal also formed Catalist Homes, which reflected his vision 
for the future of the residential real estate industry by creating a 
model of technical intelligence and efficiency.
  Although Mr. Ellis' influence and impact was truly phenomenal in 
scope, his true contribution was the indelible imprint he left on the 
landscape of Oakland, California. His efforts led to the development of 
the Oakland City Center and Oakland's Jack London Square. Both of these 
developments have been and are critical to the vibrancy of a diverse 
and complex urban area whose residents deserve the opportunity afforded 
by a healthy local economy where small businesses can thrive.
  Mr. Ellis was extremely involved in his community and professional 
organizations. He was an excited and inspiring individual, always ready 
to share his vision for the future and work on creative collaborations 
to bring innovation and growth to the development industry. Hal was a 
member of the Pacific Union Club, the Claremont Country Club, the World 
Presidents Organization and several additional real estate industry 
organizations.
  A gentleman with endless optimism and strength, even Mr. Ellis' 
illness produced in him a sense of urgency to make a difference and 
advocate on behalf of others suffering from this devastating form of 
cancer. With the support and partnership of his family members, the 
University of California, San Francisco and Bain & Company, Mr. Ellis 
led the efforts to form the Melanoma Therapeutics Foundation. In the 
hopes of expediting the discovery of a cure for this disease, his 
family continues to remain involved and encourage support of this 
important organization in memory of Mr. Ellis.
  On behalf of the residents of California's 9th Congressional 
District, I would like to thank Hal Ellis' family for sharing this 
wonderful spirit with us, especially his loving wife of 22 years, 
Marian Ellis, his sister, Jackie Ellis Leisz, his sons Stephen and 
James Ellis, his daughters Melinda Ellis Evers, Chantal Lamberto, and 
Jackie Lamberto, his daughters-in-law Karen and Melissa, sons-in-law 
Will and Eli, and of course his beloved grandchildren, Katherine, 
Audrey, Elizabeth, Ryan, Tyler, Gracie, Morgan, and Braydon. Mr. Ellis' 
legacy will live on through his devoted family and a host of loving 
friends. May his soul rest in peace.

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