We're sad to learn that another one of our heros has passed on. Ellis Doughty died in Costra Rica this morning. Special thanks to Terry Hopkins for passing on the news so promply.
Terry also pointed out that Ellis actually wrote his own obituary shortly before his death. Here's how he saw his life.
Ellis learned sign trade at a night school taught by self-taught instructor O L Cruzan in Tulsa. In his second year of school Ellis had advanced to be O L’s helper on jobs and in class.
Joined the US Army in 1961 and was assigned to northern Maine with the Missile Air Defense Command and then served in Panama until discharged in 1964.
Ellis returned to Tulsa, Ok and worked with Neon Electric Sign with Larry Caves and Modern Sign Company. Later Ellis met and worked with Harry Davenport at Ace High Sign. Ellis said most of his knowledge came from Harry.
“Harry was good, and he always knew the shortest way to do a job…stop and look the work for 15 minutes plan it and then do it! Fast is good”. Ellis said he did this his whole professional career.
After three years Ellis worked in his own garage and started to do race cars and custom cars. When Leonard Wren bought a new building and was using the state of the art machine called the ARTOGRAPH, Ellis worked with him. While working with Leonard, Ellis could layout and paint an 8 by 12 in 4 hours flat…”fast is good”.
Leonard Wren gave Ellis his client business list in 1973. With the client list, Ellis rented the corner of shop from the Neon Shop, which was the start of the very successful Western Sign in downtown Tulsa.
Ellis stayed in Oklahoma until 1984, when he sold Western Sign he moved to Florida and worked with world famous A M Design in Miami, Florida for some years, and then with Renee Anderson in Marathon, Florida (in the Keys) for short time.
Ellis freelanced in Miami until 1991, when he started work with Dade County (Miami) in Traffic Sign Department. Within a year Ellis was transferred to Parks Sign Department where he began to do more conventional signs. Ellis work can still be seen all over the parks in Miami and Dade County.
Ellis retired in 2004 and moved Okalahoma for the summers and spent the 6-months of winter in Costa Rica.
In 2008 Ellis moved to the Vista Linda in San Jose, Costa Rica permanently, doing painting of the people he loves.
Ellis won many Signs of Times International Design contests, spoke at NESA meetings (ISA) and was a many time winner of Okalahoma Sign Assoc. contests.
Ellis was host of the 4th Letterhead Meeting “The Atkins Birthday Party” in Tulsa and attended many Letterhead events thruout his life. Ellis was a true Letterhead! He always shared his knowledge and expertise.
His Mother, Brother, a Son, a Daughter and three Grand Children survive him.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Billy Picket & Pookie Fund or Superfrog Rehabilitation Fund.
[ November 13, 2008, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Ellis Doughty was one talented guy! I remember him being featured in SignCraft Magazine.
What a loss for the Craft.
R.I.P. Brother Ellis Doughty. You will be missed.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
How sad. Another old friend has left us. He was unique, as so many of those old timers were. The early Letterhead movement could not have had its impact without the work of Ellis. He will be missed.
The last time I saw Ellis was in Orlando at a Sign Business show - he had driven up from Miami. We had a nice visit and I took a little time to tell him how much I appreciated his influence on our craft. A small bunch of flowers to say the least, but he did seem to appreciate the gesture.
There are a lot of those old guys left - some who have directly influenced a lot of folks here. Make sure they know how much you appreciate their efforts before they are gone and it is too late to tell them.
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
This is so sad. Ellis was a super guy, not to mention his talents. It's obvious, from his self-written obit that the love of his life was his work. One thing he didn't mention was that he was one of the original letterheads. I found it heart warming to read his referral to "world famous A M Design in Miami" (Mark Klein). Mark is another beautiful and talented person. I had to smile about the in lieu of flowers. I'll send Billy Bob some doggie treats in memory but superfrog is way beyond rehabiltating (two more of my most favorite people, btw). Sounds like Ellis passed peacefully; may he rest in peace.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Sorry Ricky, but I don't think Ellis was a part of the Original Seven, although he was "adopted" in the very early days of the movement.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Man that guy could sure throw a Letterhead Meet...I met some of the best at his place in in Tulsa.
God bless you Ellis..you sure gave your share!
Posted by Jay Allen (Member # 195) on :
Never met him - but I sure do know his work.
Sadly, we'll be saying our goodbye's to many more of the original Letterheads as we all age. Not just the original seven - but all of those who joined them and started the momentum . . .
I can honestly say, it will never be like that again - but the spirit will survive as the entire profession was transformed by the Renassance started by those who came first . . .
The work in this industry got better from the grass-roots organization of this amazing group . . .
I'm proud to have a been a part of that - as we all are, I bet.
Posted by Kent Smith (Member # 251) on :
Last time I saw Ellis was Orlando as well when I was walking along and a nasal voice said, "Weelll look who..." We had a great visit. I have a photo above my desk with him looking at the gold leaf we had just done on the window in Santa Cruz in 1984. He suggested the colors for the blended shades and was quite an influence on my view of the use of color. He also striped our van in the same scheme that weekend. It was the start of a long friendship. We all will miss him.
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
I exchanged many emails with Ellis after my dad died. It really helped to hear about some of their early "escapades." ;-)
It is a sad day but I know that they are having a heck of a meet up there today.
Posted by Mark Klein (Member # 6586) on :
Sad to hear that Ellis has passed... We all have learned much from his artistic talents and smiles.
I met him way back, and was honored when he came and shared much of his talents with us in Miami at AM Design.
He had a great sense of humor. One of many special memories... working with him designing the "JacksonCraft" shirts we sent to a friend as a gift, started with a smile ear to ear... then laughing till we cried as we screened them.
He always shared his knowledge, and taught quietly.
Mark Klein
[ November 13, 2008, 10:45 PM: Message edited by: Mark Klein ]
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Good to hear from you Mark. I remember those JacksonCraft T-shirts - even got to see one up and personal when I was in Jackson Hole.
Another memory of Ellis was his pin striping the window in Kansas City in '84 (?). He faded the colors from one to another as he painted.
Posted by Doug Bernhardt (Member # 1568) on :
Although I'd never met Ellis or Al, I've been one of the many benefiting from their efforts. It's always a huge loss every time another of the "B.C." group passes and I'm afraid it only gets worse.
Posted by Steve Shortreed (Member # 436) on :
I'll never forget that window Raymond. Kansas City was my first Letterhead Meet!
Although I had been painting signs partime for a few years, I had never actually seen another sign painter work. Ellis changed all that! I can recall standing there watching as he lettered and pinstriped that window. It was magic and he was a master Magician.
Barb dug through some old photos and managed to find this oldie but goodie. And yes! That is me with the cool Tom Jones perm.
Posted by Tom & Kathy Durham (Member # 776) on :
We all watched him knock that window in amazement. He was indeed at a great guy with a ton of Letterhead talent
Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
I came to work one morning in the summer of 1988 and there was a 1953 Chevy panel truck painted "titty pink" with Florida plates sitting in front of the shop. The first thought that popped into my mind was "That's got to be a signpainter!" Sure enough, it was Ellis Doughty on his way back to Tulsa from Florida. He had stopped for breakfast in El Dorado, remembered that I lived here and came by for a visit. What an honor for me. I have a photo of him standing beside the pink panel posted on the wall here. Rest in peace ole friend.
On another sad note: K.D. Hayes of Monroe, La. passed away a couple of months ago. K.D. was a mentor to Big John Brassell and several other sign people in the area. K.D. never used a quill, only flats and was extremely fast with a brush. He always said a mahl stick was only good for killing snakes, he never used one. I have so many fond memories of times spent with him.
Posted by Ray Skaines (Member # 3702) on :
Sorry to read of Ellis' passing in SignCraft this evening. Seeing Steve's photo I had to post this shot I took of Ellis lettering "The Window" at the KC meet. Rest In Peace, Ellis.
What a meet too. Sitting at a table with Mike Stevens discussing layout. A baby-faced kid named John Stevens (no relation to Mike) has us all drooling over his portfolio of calligraphy. Ken Millar couldn't help but get emotional sharing his passion for lettering.
My, how time passes us so fast? I am blessed to be in this craft and have cross paths with these talented people.
Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
Sorry to hear that we lost another great letterhead. I never met Ellis but knew him from chat. Sure do miss the chat..it's not the same anymore.Judy
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
(two more of my most favorite people, btw). Sounds like Ellis passed peacefully; may he rest in peace.
