[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 16, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H8266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING ROBERT LLOYD KELLEY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in honor and remembrance of 
Robert Lloyd Kelley, who tragically passed away on March 15, 2003, at 
the age of 57. Robert Kelley, known as Bobby, was not only an 
outstanding father and beloved husband, he was also a great community 
leader and mentor who gave freely of his time and energy.
  Those who knew Bobby knew that he loved life, especially his family, 
his church, the Texas Aggies, his job, and his community. He was 
devoted to his aging parents and took care of their physical and 
emotional needs. Bobby was kind and generous to many in the community, 
but his rewards are now being reaped in the splendor of heaven.
  Bobby was born on February 4, 1946, in San Antonio, Texas, to Dr. E. 
Lloyd Kelley and the late Mary Yvonne McGarry Kelley. He is preceded in 
death by his mother as well as his son, Timothy Lloyd Kelley.
  Bobby played an active role in his community of Hondo, Texas, serving 
both on the board of directors and as president of the Hondo Area 
Chamber of Commerce, as well as president of the Hondo Owl Band Booster 
Club.
  During his life, he received numerous service awards and 
recognitions, including Volunteer of the Year for the Hondo Volunteer 
Fire Department, 1986; Community EMS Service Award, 1986 to 1990; 
Medina County Peace Officers Association Citizen of the Year; Hondo 
Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year; Outstanding Band Booster 
Service Award; and special recognition from the San Antonio Area 
Chapter of the Red Cross, as well as the Boy Scouts. He was an active 
member of the Hondo Church of Christ. He was the chief of the Medina 
County Juvenile Probation Department where he worked with the troubled 
youth of the area, a job which he found most rewarding, and through his 
department he helped a faith-based program called Angels Crossing.

                              {time}  2045

  Bobby was always willing to volunteer and work on any project that 
was ``for the kids.'' He always said, ``If you can't do something for 
kids, what's the point? Kids are our future.''
  He also served as a Texas Department of Criminal Justice religious 
volunteer for approximately 8 years. He loved to sing and served as a 
song leader at church services held at the Joe Ney Unit in Medina 
County. Through his work at the Joe Ney Unit he was able to secure 
funds to have a chapel built, and now with his passing, a formal 
request has been made that the chapel to be constructed as the unit be 
named the R.L. Kelley Chapel. It will be dedicated to helping men find 
God and change their life just as he dedicated his life to helping 
people.
  I extend my deepest condolences to Bobby's wife of 35 years, Jill, 
who is a seventh grade Texas history teacher at McDowell Middle School 
in Hondo, and his daughter, Lisa, who works for me on the House 
Agriculture Committee. Although he will be deeply missed, Bobby's 
spirit will live on in the hearts and memories of everyone he loved and 
inspired, especially his family and closest friends, today and for 
generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honor and remembrance of Robert L. 
Kelley. Medina County, Texas, was indeed fortunate to have such a 
dynamic and dedicated community leader who willingly and unselfishly 
gave his time and talents to make his community a better place in which 
to live, to work, to call home and to raise a family.

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