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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Capitol community was deeply saddened by the |
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loss of Robert Irwin Kelly, former parliamentarian of the Texas |
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House of Representatives and director of the Texas Legislative |
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Council, who passed away on December 9, 2021, at the age of 73; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to R. D. "Dick" Kelly and Betty Kelly in |
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Texarkana, Arkansas, on June 2, 1948, Bob Kelly grew up with a |
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sister, Debra; he excelled as a student, athlete, Eagle Scout, and |
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youth community leader, and along the way, he also took dance |
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lessons, earning the nickname "the Dancing Bear"; after initially |
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enrolling at the University of Arkansas on a football scholarship, |
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he wisely transferred to The University of Texas at Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly joined the Texas Legislative Council as |
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the "Xerox copy boy" and became a protégé of Robert E. Johnson, then |
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the agency's director and House parliamentarian; while learning the |
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ins and outs of legislative procedure and strategy, Mr. Kelly was |
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also embraced as a dear friend by the entire Johnson family; through |
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hard work and dedication, he became assistant parliamentarian, and |
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in 1981, Speaker Bill Clayton announced his appointment as |
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parliamentarian; and |
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WHEREAS, During his 21-year tenure as parliamentarian and |
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director of the Texas Legislative Council, Mr. Kelly also served |
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under Speakers Gib Lewis and Pete Laney; he taught rules classes, |
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mentored hundreds of council employees and freshman lawmakers, and |
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mediated battles between the political parties, demonstrating a |
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rare, statesmanlike ability to help people overcome their |
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differences; fiercely loyal to council staff, he was very |
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protective when legislators publicly attributed a drafting error or |
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undue delay to council staff; he was a brilliant tactician, |
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choosing his battles carefully, and although he set an example of |
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cordiality, he knew the value of a well-timed curse word, and he |
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made it a point to remember when someone was untruthful or broke a |
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promise; his efforts were always guided by respect for the |
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constitutions of the United States and Texas, as well as a profound |
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sense of public service; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly was committed to the long-term success of |
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the Legislature; he oversaw the introduction of computers and |
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information technology to the legislative branch, and he was |
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instrumental in the development of the Robert E. Johnson Office |
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Building as a proper permanent home for the legislative support |
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agencies; in retirement, he continued to serve as a wise elder, |
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providing counsel to parliamentarians, legislators, and staff |
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alike; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly enjoyed many interests in his free time; |
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an avid golfer, he was a longtime member of Onion Creek Club; he |
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spent many happy hours hunting birds in Mexico and Port O'Connor in |
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the company of friends, and he maintained a private pilot's license |
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for years; he was a member of the board of the Coastal Conservation |
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Association Texas, a lifetime member of the Texas Trophy Hunters |
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Association, and a proud member of the Masonic Lodge; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Kelly was devoted to his wife, Susan |
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Stewart; they traveled, dined, and entertained extensively, but |
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their most treasured moments were spent together on their QA Ranch |
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outside Seguin, where the couple had settled near Mr. Kelly's dear |
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friend, the late Representative Edmund Kuempel; in his retirement |
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years, Mr. Kelly delighted in managing the ranch and watching the |
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deer and other critters; following his passing, he was laid to rest |
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shoulder-to-shoulder with iconic musician Jerry Jeff Walker at the |
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Texas State Cemetery, where the two of them no doubt entertain one |
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another with songs and yarns, and indulge in an occasional Lone |
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Star; and |
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WHEREAS, Bob Kelly dedicated his long and noteworthy career |
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to the betterment of Texas, earning the lasting respect and |
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admiration of all who were privileged to know him, and his |
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contributions to state government will continue to resonate for |
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many years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Robert Irwin Kelly |
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and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bob Kelly. |