Biography;

Psychologist; university professor. Born September 14, 1924, St. Clair County.  Parents–Olin Ott and Willie Brock Ellis. Married–Mattie Katherine (Kay) Martin. Children–five. Education; Howard College, B.A., 1951; University of Alabama, M.A., 1953; Louisiana State University, Ph. D., 1957.  Taught at Peabody College of Education and Human Development; and at the University of Alabama, 1964-1991. Founded and edited the International Review of Research in Mental Retardation. Awarded emeritus status at the University of Alabama on his retirement in 1991. Received many professional awards, including the Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award (1984) and the Outstanding Scholar Award (1986) at the University of Alabama, as well as an endowed scholarship named in his honor in the UA College of Arts and Sciences. Also awarded the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Award; the Edgar A. Doll Memorial Award; and others. An award-winning woodworker and furniture maker. Died September 17, 2018.

Sources;

Obituary, Tuscaloosa News, September 23, 2018.

Editor;

Aberrant Development in Infancy: Human and Animal Studies.  Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associated, 1975.

Handbook of Mental Deficiency:  Psychological Theory and Research.  N.Y.: McGraw-Hill, 1963; 2nd edition, 1979; rpt. 2016.

Mental Retardation:  Introduction and Personal Perspectives.  Columbus:  Charles E. Merrill, 1975.