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A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Colonel 1
(Retired) Arthur L. Kelly. 2
WHEREAS, Colonel (Retired) Arthur Kelly was born on August 7, 1925, to the late 3
Louis and Mary Arthur Cecil Kelly; and 4
WHEREAS, Colonel Arthur Kelly was a devoted member of the Holy Spirit 5
Catholic Church, in Bowling Green, Kentucky; and 6
WHEREAS, Colonel Arthur Kelly was a United States veteran of World War II, the 7
Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During World War II, he served in the enlisted ranks 8
in the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the Philippines while his unit prepared 9
for the invasion of Japan. While in Korea in 1952, then Lieutenant Kelly served as an 10
Artillery Forward Observer and Battery Executive Officer. In July 1966, after his 11
graduation from the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, he joined 12
the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile) in An Khe, Vietnam, and took command 13
of the 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment. Colonel Kelly retired from active 14
military service in 1976; and 15
WHEREAS, after retirement, Colonel Arthur Kelly interviewed World War II 16
veterans to write his book, "BattleFire! Combat Stories from World War II," in hopes to 17
educate the public and future generations about the horrors of war; and 18
WHEREAS, Colonel Arthur Kelly was a highly decorated veteran with three 19
Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and numerous other decorations. He also earned an 20
honorary degree from Morehead State University; and 21
WHEREAS, Colonel Arthur Kelly was preceded in death by his first wife, Ollie 22
Lee Hays Kelly; daughter, Sara; two sisters, Mary Jane Barber and Patricia Barber; and 23
two brothers, John W. Kelly and Francis Rucker Kelly; and 24
WHEREAS, Colonel Arthur Kelly is survived by his wife, Jane Phillips Kelly; two 25
sons, Arthur Daniel (Darlene) Kelly and Steven Hays Kelly; three daughters, Sue Anne 26
(James) Ballard, Deborah Jane (Andy) Hissam, and Krista Lee (Ron) Thompson; two 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1619
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step-daughters, Sally Ray (Roger) Vincent and Susan Ray (John) Dickinson; twelve 1
grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren; one step-great 2
grandchild; and two sisters, Elizabeth (Bo) Cline and Rita Boone; and 3
WHEREAS, Arthur loved his family as they loved him and enjoyed the company of 4
friends. He never held a grudge and did not complain. He accepted God’s will in all 5
things, even to the very end; 6
NOW, THEREFORE, 7
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 8
Kentucky: 9
Section 1. The Senate does hereby express its most profound sympathy upon 10
the passing of Colonel (Retired) Arthur L. Kelly, and extends heartfelt condolences to his 11
family in this time of loss. 12
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor and loving 13
memory of Colonel (Retired) Arthur L. Kelly. 14
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 15
Resolution to Senator Jimmy Higdon for delivery to the family. 16