James Tice Ellis (May 6, 1956 – June 28, 2001) was an American computer scientist best known as the co-creator of Usenet, along with Tom Truscott.[1][2]

James T. Ellis
Born
James Tice Ellis

(1956-05-06)May 6, 1956
DiedJune 28, 2001(2001-06-28) (aged 45)
Alma materDuke University
SpouseCarolyn Ellis
Children2
Scientific career
Fields

Ellis was born in Nashville, Tennessee to Henry Ellis (an auditor and teacher) and Elsa Ellis. James Ellis grew up in Orlando, Florida. Before developing Usenet, Ellis attended Duke University. After graduating, Ellis worked for the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina in Research Triangle Park, N.C. He later worked as an Internet security consultant for Sun Microsystems. He was also Manager of Technical Development at CERT. He came up with the word Usenet.[1]

Ellis and Truscott were awarded the 1995 USENIX Lifetime Achievement Award.[1]

Personal life and death

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Ellis and his wife, Carolyn, had two children.

He died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma,[3] a form of blood cancer, at his home in Harmony, Pennsylvania on June 28, 2001. He was 45.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hafner, Katie (July 1, 2001). "James T. Ellis, 45, a Developer Of Internet Discussion Network". New York Times.
  2. ^ Bonnett, Cara (May 17, 2010). "Duke to shut Usenet server, home to the first electronic newsgroups". Duke University.
  3. ^ Delio, Michelle. "Usenet Pioneer Jim Ellis Dies". Wired. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "Obituary: Jim Ellis / He helped pave the Information Highway". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
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