Harold E. Kelley (1921-2005)
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Posted: 12/24/05 - 04:47:57 pm EST
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Harold E. Kelley, 84, of Ashland, died Saturday in the UK Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., following a one-car accident on I-64 east of Morehead.
Mr. Kelley, active in financial, governmental and political circles, has been described as the most influential Ashlander of the second half of the 20th Century.
He was born March 12, 1921, in Molus, “Harlan County,” Ky., a son of the late Mitchell and Bertha Ramsey Kelley.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruie Kennard Kelley, in 1996; a brother James M. Kelley; and two sisters, Bea Reed and Hazel Franks.
Mr. Kelley grew up in Black Star, a now-gone mining community in western Harlan County. He served in the Army as an Intelligence Officer in the Pacific Theater during World War II, helping determine the strength and tenacity of enemy camps and installations.
For his service, he received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with five Bronze Stars per WD GO #35/45; Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star per WD GO #33/45; Good Conduct Ribbon per GO #2 Sv Ctr (Air) Rssell Is/44.
After the war he earned an accounting degree at Bowling Green Business University and later graduated from the University of Louisville School of Law.
He came to Ashland in 1950 to partner with Allen Galloway in a certified public accountancy. Soon afterward, he was instrumental in inviting outstanding professionals like the late pediatrician Guy Cunningham to locate here. With Galloway, he built the Galloway Building, the Ashland Skytower and the South Point Holiday Inn.
During his five years in college, he roomed with Louie B. Nunn, sleeping in the same bed. Their friendship later brought Kelley, a strong Democrat, into Nunn's support team when Nunn ran for governor.
After Nunn took office, Kelley took a leading role on his administrative team, advising the governor as well as serving as chairman of the Public Service Commission. His political activity spanned party lines, and he also served under Democratic administrations and supported other Republican candidates.
At one point, Kelley chauffeured Nunn to a secret meeting with Democratic leaders to work out a plan to raise Kentucky's sales tax to five cents, from three cents. Nunn, in the back seat, covered his head with a coat. The tax increase resulted in support of humanitarian needs and left the administration with a positive place in history.
He also served as a member of and chairman of the Kentucky Racing Commission; was a board member of the University of Louisville Overseers; the Transylvania University Board of Trustees; the Kentucky Society of CPAs; the Kentucky Bar Association; the Kentucky Bar Association Board of Governors; and the American Bar Association House of Delegates.
In 1968 he was chosen Outstanding Lawyer of the Year by the KBA.
Journalist/historian George Wolfford, speaking before a downtown civic club, said Kelley was the community's most influential citizen in the years 1950-2000. He forced through some changes and set the stage for others. In 1975, he pushed through a reassessment and equalization of every piece of real estate in Ashland, resulting in fairer taxation and raising the city's tax base by $100 million.
At the same time he worked quietly to sustain local good works. He was treasurer of the Gertrude Ramey Children's Home and worked with Saul Kaplan to raise funds to upgrade the Boy Scout camp at Ona, W.Va, In his professional capacity, he guided and helped administer the estates of clients whose fortunes were also directed at community uplift.
He formally retired in 1980 but remained active, serving as a federal commissioner overseeing bankruptcy proceedings for one of the Cleveland area's largest supermarket chains.
He was elected as Ashland city commissioner 1994-96 and ran for mayor in 1996 on the platform of enacting a city payroll tax. He lost, but within short years city fathers followed his lead, enabling Ashland to climb out of long-standing debt.
In 1995, after months of faithful daily attendance at his wife's nursing home bedside, he established the Ruie Kennard Kelley Endowment Scholarship at Ashland Community College in her memory. The year after, he donated his home to the school -- the largest gift ACC had ever received.
His survivors include three daughters, Carol Ann Kelley and her husband, Jeff Tarbox, of Ashland; Joan Kelley Haeberle and her husband, Dr. Brent Haeberle, of Prospect, Ky.; and Elizabeth Lee Kelley Karpowciz and her husband, Terry Karpowciz, of Chicago, Ill.; a brother, Raymond C. Kelley of Ashland; sister-in-law, Wilma Kelley of Harlan, Ky.; four grandsons, John Andrew Fedde and Clay Kelley Fedde, both of Ashland, Bennett Harrison Haeberle of Lexington, Ky., and Mitchell Lee Haeberle of Prospect, Ky.; his caregivers, Emma Sue Mullins and Jayme Mullins, both of Ashland; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Kelley was a member of the Ashland Assembly of God; was a Master Mason with Poage Lodge 325 of which he was a 50-year member; Scottish Rite 32 Degree in Madisonville, Ky.; and was a member of the Shrine.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland by the Rev. Charles E. Stewart and the Rev. Charles J. Shields. Larry Forgey will present the eulogy. Burial will follow in Ashland Cemetery. Military services will be provided by the American Legion Kenova Post 93.
Pallbearers will be Tom Houlehan, James Solter, John Fedde, Ben Haeberle, Clay Fedde, Mitch Haeberle and Dan King.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Tom Howe, Judge David Hagerman, Judge George Davis, Judge Gerald Reams, Richard Martin, Judge Thomas Lambros, Daniel McCarthy, Roger Hensley, B.S. “Bun” Wilson, Dr. Walter Cawood, Judge Charles Sinnette, Judge Ed Rice, Kevin Gunderson and Robert Franks.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at the funeral home.
Friends may make contributions to one of the following: Ruie Kelley Scholarship Fund, c/o ACTC 1400 College Dr., Ashland KY 41101; #1 The Oaks Foundation Fund, C/O ACTC, 1400 College Dr., Ashland, KY 41101; Boy Scouts of America, 823 Adams Ave., Huntington, WV 25704; Michael J. Fox Parkinsons Research Foundation, Grand Central Station, PO Box 4777, New York, NY 10163; or to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Kentuckiana Clinic, 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005-4001.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at steenfuneralhomes.com.
