Frank C. “Butch” Ellis, Jr. was appointed by Governor Robert Bentley and confirmed by the Alabama Senate on February 11, 2016, filling the unexpired term of V. Larkin Martin that began on September 1, 2013 and ends on August 31, 2018. Mr. Ellis began practice of law with Wales W. Wallace in September 1964, co-founding the firm Wallace & Ellis and remains in the full-time practice, concentrating primarily on county and municipal governmental work and associated work with related agencies and entities.

Ellis attended Auburn University, awarded BA Degree from The University of Montevallo, and attended The University of Alabama School of Law, graduating 1964 with a J.D. degree, summa cum laude, first in class academically. He was awarded degree Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, University of Montevallo 2006. He is a member of The Order of The Coif, a member of the Alabama State Bar and admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Alabama Federal District Courts.

Ellis served as Chairman of The University of Montevallo Board of Trustees for over 20 years, and has been awarded lifetime status as Trustee Emeritus. He is a past president of the Shelby County Bar Association, served in the Alabama Senate for 11 years, has served continuously as County Attorney for Shelby County for 51 years, and also serves as City Attorney for the cities of Calera, Harpersville, Helena, Montevallo, Pelham, Westover, and Wilton.

He and his wife, Diane Bentley Ellis, have been married for 53 years and have three grown children. Ellis is a pilot and pursues hobbies of horse trail riding, fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, gardening, farming, traveling, and any wilderness experiences. He currently serves by appointment of the Governor of the State of Alabama as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust.

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