Donnie Ellis was born and raised in the Halls Crossroads community just north of Knoxville, Tennessee. He started his association with Kiwanis as a Key Clubber, as a sophomore at Halls High School and served as Vice President. He began studies at the University of Tennessee in pursuit of becoming a CPA. That career plan was sidetracked in 1974 when he got his real estate license to sell houses and assist in the family home construction business. Later that year he expanded his business to include appraising homes. He is still appraising 49 years later and is on the panel of Fee Appraisers for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 2009 an opportunity developed to move to the Nashville, TN area with VA, and six years later (2015) there was another move to Concord, NC. He is married to Katherine Cooper and has one daughter (Crystal) and two grandchildren (Baylee – 25 and Josh – 15).
Donnie became a member of the Kiwanis Club of Norwood, Knoxville in 1985, making him now a Kiwanian for over 38 years (all with perfect attendance, and for 37 of the 38 years he has served on club boards in some capacity). Over the years he served in every position the club had, including twice as President (once as Distinguished). He served as Distinguished Lt. Governor of Division 5 in the Kentucky-Tennessee (K-T) District in 2000-2001 and formed 3 new clubs in the Division that year. He also had the pleasure of being the Home Lt. Governor of Kiwanis International President Bo Shafer. Donnie served as the first K-Kids Administrator of the K-T District in 2001 and he served on the K-T District Foundation Board for five years – once as President.
After moving to Nashville in 2009 he joined the Cool Springs Club and became Lt. Governor of Division 18 in the K-T District in 2011-2012. He helped form a new club in Franklin, TN and became its charter president in 2013 and still prepares its newsletter today. He also attends its meetings by Zoom. When Donnie moved to the Charlotte area in 2015 he sought out a Kiwanis club and joined the Lake Norman club. He has served as their President twice (once Distinguished) and Lt. Governor of Division 7 for two years (once Distinguished). He was named Kiwanian of the Year in 2009 and 2020. Donnie is also a Diamond Level George F. Hixson Fellow, Bo’s Buccaneer (from the K-T District), and a Carl B. Hyatt Fellow. He is a past District Trustee and also served as Treasurer of the Past Lt Governors Council.
In addition to Kiwanis service, Donnie served on the Finance Committee of the Emerald Youth Foundation in Knoxville for ten years, President of the Halls Business & Professional Association, and was named Halls Man of the Year in 2006.
Donnie currently lives in Myrtle Beach. He enjoys travelling in his RV to NASCAR races for the past 12 years, taking his Golden Retrievers to the beach, and cheering on the University of Tennessee Volunteers in all things sports – if you cut him open, he will bleed orange.
Donnie became a Kiwanian to try to improve his little corner of the world and he hopes to continue that as a District Governor with Service Unsurpassed. He hopes you join him as we are Racing to Service for Kids.
Immediate Past Governor
Donnie Ellis
Donnie Ellis was born and raised in the Halls Crossroads community just north of Knoxville, Tennessee. He started his association with Kiwanis as a Key Clubber, as a sophomore at Halls High School and served as Vice President. He began studies at the University of Tennessee in pursuit of becoming a CPA. That career plan was sidetracked in 1974 when he got his real estate license to sell houses and assist in the family home construction business. Later that year he expanded his business to include appraising homes. He is still appraising 49 years later and is on the panel of Fee Appraisers for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 2009 an opportunity developed to move to the Nashville, TN area with VA, and six years later (2015) there was another move to Concord, NC. He is married to Katherine Cooper and has one daughter (Crystal) and two grandchildren (Baylee – 25 and Josh – 15).
Donnie became a member of the Kiwanis Club of Norwood, Knoxville in 1985, making him now a Kiwanian for over 38 years (all with perfect attendance, and for 37 of the 38 years he has served on club boards in some capacity). Over the years he served in every position the club had, including twice as President (once as Distinguished). He served as Distinguished Lt. Governor of Division 5 in the Kentucky-Tennessee (K-T) District in 2000-2001 and formed 3 new clubs in the Division that year. He also had the pleasure of being the Home Lt. Governor of Kiwanis International President Bo Shafer. Donnie served as the first K-Kids Administrator of the K-T District in 2001 and he served on the K-T District Foundation Board for five years – once as President.
After moving to Nashville in 2009 he joined the Cool Springs Club and became Lt. Governor of Division 18 in the K-T District in 2011-2012. He helped form a new club in Franklin, TN and became its charter president in 2013 and still prepares its newsletter today. He also attends its meetings by Zoom. When Donnie moved to the Charlotte area in 2015 he sought out a Kiwanis club and joined the Lake Norman club. He has served as their President twice (once Distinguished) and Lt. Governor of Division 7 for two years (once Distinguished). He was named Kiwanian of the Year in 2009 and 2020. Donnie is also a Diamond Level George F. Hixson Fellow, Bo’s Buccaneer (from the K-T District), and a Carl B. Hyatt Fellow. He is a past District Trustee and also served as Treasurer of the Past Lt Governors Council.
In addition to Kiwanis service, Donnie served on the Finance Committee of the Emerald Youth Foundation in Knoxville for ten years, President of the Halls Business & Professional Association, and was named Halls Man of the Year in 2006.
Donnie currently lives in Myrtle Beach. He enjoys travelling in his RV to NASCAR races for the past 12 years, taking his Golden Retrievers to the beach, and cheering on the University of Tennessee Volunteers in all things sports – if you cut him open, he will bleed orange.
Donnie became a Kiwanian to try to improve his little corner of the world and he hopes to continue that as a District Governor with Service Unsurpassed. He hopes you join him as we are Racing to Service for Kids.