Former New Kent supervisor, government official succumbs

Richard S. “Dick” Ellyson, 78, who served three terms on New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors and later stepped in as interim county treasurer and county administrator, passed away on Feb. 25.

He first won election to the board’s District 2 seat in 1975, but lost four years later. He ran again in 1983, regaining the post which he held for the next eight years. He opted not to seek reelection in 1991.

But Ellyson was never one to shy away from county service. He answered the call from supervisors to take over as interim county treasurer when then treasurer Betty Burrell left the post in 1998. He served for 11 months.

Then in December 2001, he stepped in as interim county administrator in the wake of R.J. Emerson’s departure. He remained in that capacity until a new administrator came on board the following September.

A few years later, Ellyson agreed to a second stint as interim county administrator when then administrator Gary Christie resigned in December 2004. He served until April 2005 when John Budesky took over the post.