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TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF ELLIS HOWARD DANTZLER OF LEXINGTON COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HIS MANY FRIENDS.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Ellis Howard Dantzler of Lexington at the age of seventy-four on Wednesday, December 5, 2018; and
Whereas, born in Orangeburg on October 5, 1944, Ellis was the son of the late Peter Howard and Emily Lancaster Dantzler, and he grew up in Cameron and graduated from Cameron High School; and
Whereas, an exceptional athlete, he starred in all sports in high school. His senior year, the Cameron Colts went undefeated and were state champions in every sport, and he was honored as a high school All-American and selected for the North-South football game. He also starred on a number of American Legion, Pony League, and Little League state championship teams; and
Whereas, he continued to play sports after graduating from high school, first as a member of the freshman football and baseball teams at Clemson in 1962-63, and then on the varsity teams for coaches Frank Howard and Bill Wilhelm through 1966; and
Whereas, at that time in college football, players were required to play offense and defense, and Ellis Dantzler was an outstanding offensive and defensive back for the team; and
Whereas, he played first base for the Tigers and was named Most Valuable Baseball Player during his senior year and held the record for highest batting average until recent years; and
Whereas, during his graduate years at Clemson, Mr. Dantzler was an assistant coach for the last freshman football team and was head coach of the freshman baseball team, having a record of 16-0. He was a member of High Court, Tiger Brotherhood, and Sigma Alpha Zeta Fraternity; and
Whereas, he married his beloved wife, Frances Platt of Ravenel, on December 27, 1967, and they reared three fine children: Lisa Dantzler Ferris, Todd Ellis Dantzler, and Chad Howard Dantzler. He was blessed with the love of two grandsons, Roan and Luke; and
Whereas, after a year in dental school at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, the Dantzlers spent two years teaching in Bamberg, where he coached football and basketball and taught science at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School; and
Whereas, in 1970, Mr. Dantzler began teaching science and coaching at Lexington High School, serving as head football coach from 1975 to 1978, where he made a deep spiritual, moral, and intellectual impact on many young people; and
Whereas, in 1976, he began working part-time in the coaches' division of Gulf Life Insurance Company, where he soon became a top producer and was recognized with many awards after he began working full-time there in 1978. He was associated for many years with Goldstein and Associates and Midlands Insurance Center; and
Whereas, Mr. Dantzler was a member of the Lexington Rotary Club, which awarded him the coveted Paul Harris award for distinguished service, and was a member of Mount Horeb United Methodist Church, Clemson IPTAY, Clemson Block C Club, and the Lexington Cotillion; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the life and legacy of Ellis Dantzler and for the standard of excellence and hard work he set for all who knew him. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express profound sorrow upon the passing of Ellis Howard Dantzler of Lexington County and extend their deepest sympathy to his large and loving family and his many friends.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ellis Howard Dantzler.
This web page was last updated on January 17, 2019 at 10:37 AM