Background
Ellison, Riki Morgan was born on August 15, 1960 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Son of Raniera Daniel Ellison and Judith Gray.
professional organization executive Football player
Ellison, Riki Morgan was born on August 15, 1960 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Son of Raniera Daniel Ellison and Judith Gray.
He graduated University of Southern California with a degree in International Relations. The NFL San Francisco 49ers chose him with their fifth-round pick in the 1983 NFL Draft becoming the first ever New Zealander and Maori to play in Professional Football.
Jerry Attaway, his conditioning coach at University of Southern California and (teammate) Ronnie Lott had convinced Bill Walsh to select him in the draft. He was drafted alongside a pair of future Pro Bowlers, running back Roger Craig and center/guard Jesse Sapolu. In his final season with the 49ers in 1989, he broke his right arm in the final preseason game and was placed on the injured reserve list for the season.
He played his final three seasons with the Los Angeles Raiders.
Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance
In 2002, Ellison launched the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance a non-profit organization with the mission to advocate for the deployment and development of a missile defense system. Youth Impact Program
In 2005, Ellison founded the Youth Impact Program for disadvantaged, poverty-stricken and at-risk adolescent boys in United States inner cities.
The program places them in an educational setting for five weeks, exposing them to academics, life skills and athletics in a University setting. The program provides the boys with clothing, food and permanent mentors from University football teams who track and support the young men year-round.
The United States. Marine Corps also participates in YIP by providing students with leadership and character development skills training and mentoring.
Since its founding, Youth Impact Programs have been held at university"s across the United States including the University of Southern California, Tulane University, Rice University, the University of South Florida, Syracuse University, University of Houston, and Texas Southern University, Stanford University, Northwestern University, University of Michigan and the United States Military Academy at West Point. Ellison is of Māori descent. At eight, Ellison moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with his father, Dan, who went on to become an economic advisor to the United Nations.
Shortly thereafter, Ellison"s parents divorced and he relocated with his mother to Los Angeles, where she remarried Dennis Gray.
Ellison went to high school in Tucson, Arizona. The Ellison family comes from a strong sporting background, he is related to professional Rugby players Tamati Ellison and Jacob Ellison who both played in Super Rugby, Jacob is now playing in Japan for Fukuoka Sanix Blues, while Tamati is with the Melbourne Rebels. Thomas Ellison, his great-uncle, played for the first New Zealand rugby team to play the Great Britain in 1888 and 1889, and captained the first New Zealand team to play in Australia in 1893, and the first Maori lawyer
In 1992, Ellison relocated his family to New Zealand and attempted to bring a college bowl game called the Haka Bowl to New Zealand. Ellison"s son, Rhett, plays as a tight end for the Minnesota Vikings.
Founder, chairman Student Athlete Permanent Impact Foundation, Los Angeles, since 2000. Head coach TC William High School, Alexandria, 2001—2002. Creater, manager Navajo Reservation, Fort Defiance, Arizona, 2006.
Member of Defense Orientation Conference Association, NFL Alumni.
Married Heather Bodwin Ellison, April 2, 2005. Children from previous marriage: Wesley, Rhett, Brooke, Troy.