Fort Collins Graduate Who Inspired Tim McGraw Loses Battle With Cancer
Fort Collins High School graduate, Ben Ellis, lost his battle with esophageal cancer on Friday (September 16, 2016.) I got the word that Ben had passed from a couple of friends, who were fellow Lambkins. Ben graduated from FCHS in 1984. His father, Bob Ellis, is a Professor at Colorado State University and has worked with my wife for a couple decades.
Ben was thrust into the national spotlight when country music superstar, Tim McGraw, posted a video on his Facebook page of Ellis' students singing to him as he watched from the window of his home near Nashville. Ellis was a Latin and Bible studies teacher at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee.
This is the video that went viral after Tim McGraw posted it on his Facebook page and to this date has over 28 million views:
Here is what McGraw posted on his Instagram account after Ben passed away, along with a photo of a sunrise peaking out from the clouds:
“Mr. Ben Ellis has passed away …The example of love and kindness that showed in his heart through his teaching has impacted so many of his students, and through them has and will continue to impact the world …time well spent Mr. Ellis, time well spent sir … rest now, for you shall be well received”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Ellis family.