The Most Interesting Person in Pushmataha County

I hereby nominate Ed Ellis as the most interesting person in Pushmataha County. If you know someone interesting, let me know, I’d love to write about them.

What makes a person interesting? Participating in a wide variety of activities. Ed has lived a life pursuing his passions at a high level. What are they?

1. Ed is an accomplished piano player and can astonish an audience. His Mother put him in lessons from 3rd-7th grade, then he played for the choral club, and continued to hone his skills performing for friends and family. He also learned from Peter Simon, who Ed enjoyed bringing to Antlers to play for friends.

2. Ed was on his HS tennis team, and enjoyed playing locally through his 50’s.

3. He was on debate team while going to HS in Muscogee, which taught him how to argue his beliefs, and exposed him to a friend who would go on to be a national champion for extemporaneous speaking, and a leading attorney. Renard Strickland is also from Muscogee and is a leading Indian Law Attorney, who has written over 50 books on Indian Law and was instrumental in Oklahoma tribes being able to have gaming.

4. In 1967 Ed became the state ping pong champion and competed at a high level throughout his life. Ed enjoys playing on a table that was used at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. 5. Ed also performed at high levels as a Chess competitor and achieved a 1500 ranking.

6. He has practiced medicine and helped many people, going into the office even as an 80-year-old.

7. He learned to scuba dive at a lake near Idabel and his favorite dive spot is at Roatan, Honduras. His diving buddy was often Brad Miller. One is his fav memories was seeing a nurse shark.