Coach invests in Tallahassee’s next generation

The energy in the Lawrence-Gregory Community Center was refreshing on the afternoon of June 19, not just due to the splashes from the nearby pool in the searing summer heat, but because a local legend had returned to his roots.

George Ellis, a name deeply engraved in Tallahassee’s Black history as the ”Father of Florida A&M University’s Swimming Program,” stood in a room of attentive young children, each one reflecting the hope, curiosity, and dreams he once carried.

Ellis and the members of the Robinson-Trueblood Swimming Pool Reunion Committee were making a special visit to the center to bring a message of encouragement to the assembled group of kids who are the latest generation to find an outlet at the Lawrence-Gregory Community Center at Dade Street and the adjacent pool that served the same purpose years ago to this day’s visitors.

Before leaving, they made a financial donation to assist with the summer program.

As Ellis paced around the room, he relayed a piece of advice that stood out for everyone to remember. “Life has a different look, but the same thing; it’s basic survival skills you must learn, and respect people regardless of who they are.”

Ellis, who was inducted into the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame in 2024 and was a swim coach for 34 years, began his aquatic journey at the Robinson-Trueblood Pool on Dade Street. Ellis spent his childhood summers there in the 1960s, where his passion for swimming was ignited. Living in the Bond community in 1971, Ellis was recognized by Tallahassee Mayor Lee Everhart for his heroic action to prevent a young boy named Johnny James from drowning in the community pool. What began as a local activity developed into a lifelong dedication.

From 1971 to 2005, Ellis was the head coach of FAMU’s swim team, leading the Rattlers to eight Black College National Championships and securing an 85% win rate against other HBCUs.

More importantly, he maintained a remarkable 99% graduation rate among his athletes, emphasizing academic and athletic excellence.

Even though he left the campus in 2005 after the swimming program was discontinued, Ellis remains actively involved in the Tallahassee community, mentoring young swimmers, promoting water safety in underserved neighborhoods, and advocating for greater access to swimming programs for Black youth.

But it all started with the community center and the adjacent pool.

“I was with Robinson-Trueblood Pool for years as I learned how to swim there, and I learned all of my skills there.“ He continued, “The directors of both the pool and center worked hand in hand to try to work toward a common goal and try to make young folks interested in being the very best they can be and contribute something to society.”

Ellis said his message to the kids on this day was to inspire them.

“Learn the history and try to contribute to the future,” Ellis told the Tallahassee Democrat. “Remember that if you do something good, good will follow you. Do something bad, that’ll follow you.”

The Robinson-Trueblood swimming pool committee is made up of community members who work to collect donations and organize fundraisers to help today’s generation.

Bloscile Williams, treasurer of the Robinson-Trueblood committee, highlights the importance of giving back to the youth.

“We wanted to bring some wholesome activity back to the community and let these kids come up and see there’s more they can do in life and not be pulled apart,” she said. “Everything changes, but if more people in the community come out and engage, then we wouldn’t have much crime.”

The Robinson-Trueblood Pool was established in 1953 and named after two local soldiers, Eddie Robinson and David Trueblood, who tragically lost their lives in the Korean War.

During the era of segregation, the pool became an essential sanctuary for Tallahassee’s Black community, providing recreational activities, baptisms and cultural events as an alternative to restricted access to other city pools. However, in the mid-1960s, city officials closed public pools entirely to prevent integration.

On April 9, 1968, all community pools were reopened with a 3-1 vote made by the city commission. Since then, the Robinson-Trueblood community pool became more vital to the neighborhood.

The Robinson-Trueblood pool and similar facilities located in Black communities nationwide play a critical role. Black children ages 5-14 drown at a rate 2.6 to 7.6 times higher than White children nationally, according to a 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The committee not only offered inspiring messages. They backed it up by presenting a check for $1,000 toward resources needed at the center.

Robin McKay, Special Events Supervisor for the City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs department, said the donation will help provide programs and activities for the kids during the summer.

“Running a camp with 100-plus kids at this site can get very costly, so this donation will help lighten the load,” “We haven’t made any big decisions yet since we just received the check, but we’re hoping to invest in things that will benefit the kids for generations to come.”

Tallahassee Democrat writer Joel Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@gannett.com.