Hall of Fame
Don Ellingsen was an outstanding wide receiver on the gridiron for Washington State and set a school pole vault record at 14-3 1/2 in 1958 as a member of the Cougar track and field team. As a junior in 1957, he led the Pacific Coast Conference with 45 receptions and ranked third nationally. That season, Ellingsen was named All-PCC First Team, Associated Press All-West Coast First Team and was a third team All-American by AP. He also set a school record with the longest kickoff return for a touchdown, going 89 yards in a 13-12 victory over USC. Ellingsen was named Inland Empire Athlete of the Year in 1957 and Washington State’s Athlete of the Year in 1958-59. His father Carl "Tuffy" Ellingsen, was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980.
