Frank C. “Butch” Ellis, Jr. has almost sixty years of experience in the practice of law. During his career, he has touched and provided assistance to clients in virtually every area of law from estate planning to family disputes to civil and criminal matters. He has been Shelby County’s legal counsel for almost sixty years and also serves as City Attorney for the cities of Calera, Harpersville, Helena, Montevallo, Pelham, Westover, and Wilton. He remains in full-time practice, and concentrates on his county/municipal government work, and associated work with related agencies and entities.
Butch married his high school sweetheart, Diane Bentley, in 1962 and has three grown children, and 6 grandchildren. He is a licensed pilot, pursues hobbies of horse trail riding, fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, gardening, farming, and traveling. He also seeks out any wilderness experience and makes time to spend several weeks each year at his remote cabin in the Alaskan wilderness.
Education
- University of Montevallo, Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, 2006
- University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 1964, (summa cum laude, first in class academically, Order of the Coif)
- University of Montevallo, B.A., 1961
- Attended Auburn University
Licensed in
- Alabama
Admitted in
- United States Supreme Court
- Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Northern District of Alabama
- Middle District of Alabama
- Southern District of Alabama
Selected Professional and Community Activities
- Alabama State Bar
- University of Montevallo Board of Trustees, former Chair for 23 years
- Shelby County Bar Association, member and former president
- Alabama State Senator, 1982 – 1992
- Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust, former Board Member
- Alabama Ethics Commission, former Commission Member
- Alabama Law Institute Member