H.R. No. 548
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost a respected attorney and
civic leader with the death of Dee J. Kelly of Fort Worth on October
2, 2015, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, Dee Kelly was born in Bonham on March 7, 1929; he
earned a degree at Texas Christian University, and while he was
studying law at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.,
he worked in the office of Sam Rayburn, the legendary speaker of the
U.S. House of Representatives; Mr. Kelly interrupted his studies to
serve in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1953, rising to the rank of
first lieutenant; and
WHEREAS, Following his military service, Mr. Kelly resumed
his law studies and his work in Speaker Rayburn's office; he met
Janice LeBlanc, a student at Southern Seminary in Virginia, and the
couple were married in 1954; soon thereafter, he returned with his
bride to Texas, where he began his legal career at the Texas
Railroad Commission; over the next half century, he worked in
private practice, representing various influential clients in oil
and ranching, and as general counsel to companies such as Moncrief
Oil, Justin Industries, and Bass Brothers Enterprises; in 1979, he
was the founder of Kelly Hart & Hallman, the largest law firm in
Fort Worth; and
WHEREAS, For many years, Mr. Kelly was best known for his
civic and political engagement, both in Fort Worth and, at the state
level, as a friend and counselor for many politicians; he knew all
three presidents from Texas, Lyndon Johnson, George H. W. Bush, and
George W. Bush, as well as House Speaker Jim Wright and Senators
Lloyd Bentsen, John Tower, and John Cornyn, and he was especially
good friends with Governor John Connally; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly served on the boards of AMR Corporation,
Sabre, Justin Industries, and North Texas Bancshares, and he was
likewise generous with his time as a board member for the Van
Cliburn Foundation, The University of Texas Law School Foundation,
the UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Center, Performing Arts Fort
Worth, and the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show; he
remained loyal to TCU, his Texas alma mater, for his entire life,
serving on the university's board for 32 years; and
WHEREAS, Among the numerous accolades Mr. Kelly received were
the Outstanding Citizen Award from the City of Fort Worth, the
Horatio Alger Award, the Blackstone Award from the Tarrant County
Bar Association, and the Citizen of the Year Award from the Longhorn
Council of the Boy Scouts of America; in 1999, he appeared on the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram list of the 10 most influential leaders in
Tarrant County in the second half of the 20th century, and both TCU
and George Washington University named buildings in his honor; and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Kelly enjoyed the love and
support of a fine family, including his wife, Janice, with whom he
shared 61 years, as well as three children, Cynthia, Dee, and Craig,
and seven grandchildren, Ben, Kelly, Cate, Lynn, Camille, Patrick,
and Ryan; and
WHEREAS, Rising from humble beginnings in Bonham to become a
confidant and advisor to some of the most influential Texans in
recent history, Dee Kelly lived a rich and purposeful life, and he
leaves behind a legacy of achievement that will continue to
resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dee J. Kelly and
extend sincere sympathy to all those who mourn his passing; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dee Kelly.
Geren
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 548 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 2, 2017.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House