J.B. Elzy Jr. was born in 1942, the third of five children, to parents who did not graduate from high school. But his parents instilled in their children good work ethics, stressing to their children that they be on time and get along with others. Elzy not only graduated high school, (he is a graduate of Flint Northern High School in Michigan), but he went on to college to become an educator, teaching in Michigan, Delaware and Virginia before coming to Beloit in 1982. He served the school district as assistant principal at Beloit Memorial High School, principal of McNeel Middle School and administrator of multicultural affairs. He retired in 2007 as assistant principle at Beloit Memorial High School.

As an educator in the School District of Beloit, Elzy enjoyed seeing students receive their high school diploma. Students would come to BMHS very unaware of the facts of life and graduate as mature young adults.

Elzy married Janet R. Pounds in 1992. He and his wife are the photographers for the Office of the National Black Student Union. Elzy’s two children, Dr. Stephanie Elzy and Stuart Elzy are professionals in medicine and education respectively.

Elzy serves as president of the Board of the Merrill Community Center. He is a member of the Black Male Role Models group.

He enjoys helping others, volunteering, reading, writing, exercising and standing up for worthy causes.