By Harry Minium
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Dennis Ellmer was a standout football, basketball and baseball player for Holy Trinity Catholic School and the Ocean View Aces while attending grade and middle school. And he likely would have been the same had he continued to play sports in high school.
Raised in lower middle-class Ocean View, Ellmer had clothes on his back and enough to eat but had to work if he wanted "luxury" items such as a Slurpee from 7/11 or tickets to see a movie.
So, by the time he entered Norview High School, he cast aside kids' games and worked for a living.
Ellmer saw what others had and dreamed of making it big in the business world. Ellmer indeed made it big. He founded and heads Priority Automotive, now a $2 billion per year business that has more than two dozen car dealerships all over Virginia.
But he never forgot the lessons he learned as a kid making tackles or throwing out a runner at first. "Playing sports as a child did so much to help mold my character," he said.
Few in Hampton Roads have done more to support local athletics in Hampton Roads than Ellmer. He took over the Charity Bowl football game a decade ago and turned it into a fundraising juggernaut that raised more than $850,000 for children's charities this spring. The game has morphed into the Priority Charity Bowl ODU Spring Game.
He's donated millions of dollars to the Old Dominion and Norfolk State athletic programs, including a $1.5 million gift to ODU in 2019 that made it possible to have the Priority Automotive Club, an upscale club that has generated millions in dollar of revenue.
More recently, he has become a key figure in the resurgence of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Ellmer has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame remains a healthy, viable organization.
Last month, during its first induction ceremony in almost three years, the Hall of Fame honored Ellmer with the Steve Guback Distinguished Virginian Award.
It's likely an exaggeration to say that the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame would have closed its doors without Ellmer. But it's no exaggeration to say it's a lot healthier than it would have been because not only of his generosity, but because of his wisdom.
A few years ago, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame was in danger of folding. The museum that housed the Hall of Fame in downtown Portsmouth closed not long after the city of Portsmouth rescinded a long-time subsidy.
Hall of Fame CEO Eddie Webb, the former ODU assistant basketball coach and son of former Monarch coach Paul Webb, and Joel Rubin, the longtime journalist and public relations guru, moved the Hall of Fame to Virginia Beach, where the city and developers of Town Center provided a new home.
All of this was before the pandemic, and being shut down essentially for two years robbed the Hall of Fame not only of revenue, but also visibility.
Ellmer had been a sponsor of the Sports Hall of Fame for many years, but did not get intimately involved until he met Will Driscoll, who now heads the organization. Driscoll has successfully morphed it from an old-time museum into both a virtual hall, and one with a physical presence in six buildings scattered around Town Center.
Ellmer was impressed with Driscoll's energy and ideas and increased his sponsorship considerably. But more than anything, Driscoll said, Ellmer helped open doors around the region and state.
"The pandemic was hard on everyone, but Dennis was always good about returning a phone call or an email," Driscoll said. "He's always great about coming up with good ideas. But he's also been a great connector.
"He introduces us to people who may not know about us and the work we do. Sometimes, that's more valuable than the sponsorship itself. He's helped us increase awareness of the organization. Even though we've been around for 50 years, at times we've struggled."
Ellmer said he's done so because Driscoll is working with so much passion.
"Will has worked so hard to rebuild the hall of fame not into a building, but something that's more sustainable," Ellmer said. "I think it's important to Hampton Roads that the Sports Hall of Fame succeeds and thrives. And I'm so impressed with what Will has done to save the Hall of Fame."
One of the innovations that Ellmer has spent time on is trying to make the Hall more visible around the and state. He's consulted with Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, who has agreed to host Hall of Fame memorabilia in a new development planned for the Military Circle area. He's brainstormed with Driscoll about setting up permanent exhibits in other parts of the state.
Driscoll said getting the Hall of Fame into Richmond, Northern Virginia and Southwest Virginia is critical to its future.
"This is the Hall of Fame for the entire state," he said. "You can't always ask people to come to you.
"We're considering ways to bring events to other areas. It could be a physical presence or it could be events.
"Finding the right way to celebrate the inductees in their home town is important."
Ellmer and the 11 inductees – it included both the classes of 2020 and 2021 – were given seven minutes apiece to speak. It's typical of Ellmer than he took just two minutes and 39 seconds.
"For me to be inducted with this esteemed class is a big honor for this Ocean View boy from Norview High School," he said. "To be mentioned in the same breath with Bruce Smith, George Allen, Alonzo Mourning, Curtis Strange, David Wright and my good friend Bruce Rader is pretty heady stuff."
ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. with Dennis Ellmer
Rader, the former WAVY-TV sportscaster, has hosted about half of the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. He was replaced temporarily this year by WAVY sportscaster Craig Loper because Rader was inducted the same night Ellmer received his award.
When I was interviewing Ellmer, he said: "If Bruce Rader can get in the sports hall of fame, then anyone can."
It was, of course, a joke. Ellmer worked hard behind the scenes to get both Rader and former ODU basketball coach Sonny Allen inducted.
"A lot of people have worked really hard to keep this Hall of Fame alive," Rader said. "Bob Ashton of TowneBank is one of those people.
"Dennis is probably the Hall of Fame's biggest supporter now and it says so much about him that he was there for this event."
Ellmer had a trip to South America planned before the Hall of Fame ceremony was set but delayed his trip two days so he could be at the induction.
"A lot of supporters write checks and don't show up," Rader said. "Dennis always shows up.
"Dennis is at every Charity Bowl meeting. I knew he'd be at this event regardless of what it took."
Ellmer said he will continue to support the Hall of Fame for years to come.
"The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is about our history," he said during his speech. "When we're all gone, future generations will be able to learn from the rich sports legacy we have in our commonwealth.
"I love sports and am as proud as anyone of our great state. I ask everyone listening to this to support us so that we continue to have a healthy hall of fame."
Minium: ODU Booster Dennis Ellmer is also Boosting the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
