KSRT, INC. -- The Kentucky Society of Radiologic Technologists, Inc.

Spotlighting Outstanding KSRT, Inc. Members

Ellis Blanton – Louisville submitted by: Donna Crum – Springfield

There are many words to describe individuals. When I think of Ellis Blanton I think of a kind hearted individual, the epitome of a radiography professional which I am striving to become. Who is Ellis Blanton you may ask? Ellis is a small town boy (from Pikeville) that moved to the big city of Louisville with his parents (Ellis and Faye Blanton) and five siblings while in the 9th grade. He attended school at Louisville Male High School where he excelled in sporting events, especially track and field competitions. To this day he is still a Bulldogs supporter, as well as participating in the Senior Olympics track and field events (javelin, shot put, long and high jump.)

Upon graduation from high school in 1959, Ellis enlisted in the Armed Forces, division of the Army. During which time, he was seeking to find direction in his life. After his tour of duty was completed, he started working as an orderly in the x-ray department of the Louisville Methodist Hospital. While at Louisville Methodist Hospital, Ellis’ mentor, Dr. Orson Smith encouraged Ellis to attend college. With a gentle nudge Ellis returned to Pikeville enrolling in general education courses. After two years of college, Ellis returned to Louisville Methodist Hospital, convinced by his mentor that his true calling in life was being a radiologic technician.

Ellis applied to the Louisville Methodist Hospital Radiologic Technicians program along with 6 other students, beginning his career as a radiologic technician. Ellis had the honor of working under the supervision of Mrs. Olive Bell, well known as a pioneer in the profession. Being in a hospital based program was very demanding and after only 3 months Ellis’ class dwindled to a mere 3 students. That would mean that every two weeks his schedule would change from a 7-3, 1-9 or 5p-7a shift and as many people remember students were alone after 5 pm. Ellis rotated on weekends also, from 5pm Saturday night to 7am on Monday morning. Ellis volunteered for call whenever it became available, earning a mere $12.00 per shift. He stated that it would not be worth much today but he was able to support himself while in school by pulling as much call as he could. For those of you who do not remember or do not know what a hospital based program is like it was 90% clinic and 10 % classroom. Courses covered 2 days a week for 2 hours, including physics, radiation protection, anatomy and physiology and procedures. There were no pre-requisites other than graduation from high school. The cost of attending a radiologic technology during this time of was a mere one hundred dollars a year.

Upon graduation, Ellis first year’s income was $3,600.00, certainly a change from what first year graduates are earning today. When asked what significant changes he saw take place in radiography, his first response was automatic processing. In 1964, an x-ray tech spent a great deal of time doing barium studies (BE and UGI) and with out an automatic processor each procedure was quite lengthy. Each film took approximately 2 ½ hours to dry and this would turn a day into one very long experience. The second significant change that Ellis remembers very clearly is the advent of computers in the radiography department. Computers usage started in the Nuclear Medicine area (gamma cameras) and was quickly followed by sonography and CT. Computers changed the whole scope of practice in radiography in Ellis opinion. Ellis remembers when mammography was performed with the portable unit because the mA stations in the radiography rooms were not low enough to perform mammography and the exposure times needed were very long.
When asked what changes he would like to see in the field of radiography, Ellis first response would be to work towards entry level radiographers with a Bachelor’s degree. The field of radiography has changed tremendously in Ellis’ lifetime and there are more demands placed on radiographers now more than ever. It is not just performing a task now in radiography; it is performing many more technical complex things that require more critical thinking and problem solving than in the past. He would also like to see the governing bodies of the radiography profession ARRT and ASRT become one blanket organization that could heighten the representation of all imaging professional.

A few highlights of Ellis’ career, include Ellis’ first Chief Tech was Fred Gwynn (1965) at Louisville Methodist Hospital. In 1965, when Olive Bell decided to retire from nuclear medicine, she was asked by the Department head who she thought could replace her and the person she suggested was Ellis Blanton. Ellis accepted the challenge and in 1967 (after two years of training) became the 4th person in the state of Kentucky to become registered in Nuclear Medicine. Ellis has held many calling in his career as an x-ray technician. He started as an orderly and with gentle prodding from a wise mentor, worked his way through radiography school and nuclear medicine training and became the Department Administrator of one of the largest hospitals in Louisville. During his tenure at Baptist Hospital East, Ellis returned to college (University of Louisville) and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1974 and his Masters in Education in 1982. When Ellis retired from Baptist Hospital in 2001 he decided to give back to the radiography profession and became an instructor at St. Catharine College outside of Springfield. His colleagues at Baptist Hospital East started a scholarship in his name at St. Catharine to honor their leader and mentor. At St. Catharine’s he teaches several courses and works on many committees. One or two days a week you will find Ellis visiting the St. Catharine students in one of the many clinic sites located in Louisville and southern Indiana.

On a personal note, Ellis is very devoted to his wife, Shirley, whom he met while in radiography school (and married in 1965) and his two children, Jay (39) and Kelly (33). Shirley also retired from Baptist Hospital East where she held many positions in the nursing field. Both of their children graduated from Male High School choosing different colleges to attend with one attending University of Kentucky and the other the University of Louisville. Today, Jay is the Executive Director of Planning and Marketing at the University of Kentucky and Kelly is a high school instructor and basketball coach in Greenback, TN. Ellis is also very active in his church (39 years), Bethel Baptist, as a deacon, on the personnel committee, and as a Sunday school teacher. To stay in shape for the Senior Olympics, you can find him jogging around his Louisville neighborhood (a short 3 miles) every other day.

How can you describe a friend and mentor like Ellis? Words like gentle, courteous, thoughtful, happy, caring, strong, intelligent, commanding, persuasive, joy-full, fun-loving, and simply wonderful. Ellis lives in Louisville ,not far from Baptist Hospital East, where he has spent most of his professional life. He is well known in the radiography circles in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area. Everyone should have an Ellis as a role model. When I think of someone that I would like to be more like, Ellis is the person I see. I hope you have an Ellis in your future.