A 5-11 guard from Shawnee, Russell Ellis earned third team NAIA All-America honors in 1963 after he helped lead the Bison to conference and district championships and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. He scored 920 career points, averaging 17.0 points per game and 6.7 rebounds.

In 1962-63, he averaged 15.7 points and 4.5 rebounds, earning first team all-conference recognition and the most valuable player trophy at the Top of the Nation Tournament in Colorado. In 1963-64 he averaged 18.4 points and 9.0 rebounds and was a second team all-conference pick.

On the baseball diamond, Ellis was an all-conference selection in 1963, 1964, and 1965. He batted .361, .430, and .266 in his three seasons for a career average of .353. His .430 average in 1964 is the 12fth-highest in Bison history.

Ellis passed away in 2017.