Bob Ellison, Correspondents' Association's first African American president

Bob Ellison, 67, a radio reporter who was the first African American journalist to serve as president of the White House Correspondents' Association, died May 24 at Sibley Memorial Hospital. He was a District resident and had emphysema.

Mr. Ellison spent 14 years as the White House correspondent for the Sheridan Broadcasting Network (later known as the American Urban Radio Networks). He covered the Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations, providing reports on major issues for a primarily black audience.

In 1991, while serving his one-year term as president of the White House Correspondents' Association, Mr. Ellison directed the planning of the group's annual spring gathering, which traditionally draws stars from the media and entertainment worlds.

He selected comedian Sinbad as the gala's entertainer and introduced President George H.W. Bush at the banquet.

Current White House Correspondents' Association President Edwin Chen said in a statement that Mr. Ellison "was a pioneering journalist, shattering a glass ceiling when he became the first minority to serve as president of the White House Correspondents' Association, and he served with great distinction."

In 1994, Mr. Ellison joined Walls Communications, a public relations firm where he served as senior vice president for media relations. His clients included AT&T, Denny's restaurants, Shell Oil, the National Urban League, Freddie Mac, the U.S Marines and U.S. Army. He retired in 2007 but continued consulting with the company until his death.

Robert Munroe Ellison was born Sept. 22, 1942 in New York City and had a track scholarship to St. John's University, where he set several school records in sprint events and competed against Olympic champions. He later ran for the New York Pioneer track club.

After graduating from St. John's, Mr. Ellison taught at a junior high school in Queens, N.Y., before joining the U.S. Agency for International Development in 1969. From 1970 to 1978, he served in Ethiopia, Thailand and Liberia.

After settling in Washington in 1978, Mr. Ellison became a newscaster and host for WOOK-FM radio before moving to the American Urban Radio Networks.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in the District. In recent years, he was an avid cyclist.

His marriages to Diane O'Reilly Ellison and Elaine Ellison ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Pamela Crane Ellison of Washington; three children from his first marriage, Robert M. Ellison Jr. of Ashburn, Michelle Ellison of Reston and Michael Ellison of Detroit; a daughter from his second marriage, Renee Ellison of Norfolk; a daughter from his third marriage, Angel Ellison of Washington; two stepchildren, Emily A. Bailiff of San Diego and David S. Engle of Gaithersburg; a brother; and six granddaughters.