[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 42 (Friday, March 9, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FORMER TUPELO MAYOR EDWIN CLYDE NEELLY III

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                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 9, 2018

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
former Tupelo Mayor Edwin Clyde Neelly, III, who died on February 21, 
2018. Mr. Neelly strived to excel in every pursuit, from his 
distinguished military service to a long and successful career in 
banking. He would also add public service to his list of 
accomplishments.
  Mr. Neelly, a native of Greenwood, Mississippi, was born on October 
2, 1939. His childhood was spent in Grenada, where his father, Edwin 
Clyde Neelly, Jr. operated a business and served as the mayor of 
Grenada from 1936 until 1940. Upon graduation from Randle High School, 
Mr. Neelly attended the University of Mississippi, where he earned a 
bachelor's degree in marketing. Mr. Neelly earned a master's degree in 
banking from Louisiana State University and he was a graduate of the 
Harvard Business School's Finance for Senior Executives program.
  Mr. Neelly entered military service, joining a long line of family 
members who have served our nation. His predecessors served in the 
Indian War under George Washington, the American Revolution, the War of 
1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World 
War I, World War II, and Korea. Mr. Neelly served eight years in the 
Mississippi Army National Guard and the United States Air Force 
Reserve. He was on active duty in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam 
war.
  Mr. Neelly pursued a career in the field of commercial banking for 44 
years. In Grenada, he began his career in banking as a management 
trainee and worked his way up to bank president. In 1980, his family 
moved to Tupelo, Mississippi, where he served as President and Chief 
Executive Officer of the Peoples Bank and Trust Company. Following a 
brief retirement, Mr. Neelly returned to the banking business as 
President of the First American National Bank.
  In 2000, Mr. Neelly's desire to serve the citizens of Tupelo led him 
to run for a councilman-at-large seat on the Tupelo City Council. Then, 
he served as mayor of Tupelo from 2005 until 2009. His also served as 
chairman of the Community Development Foundation and the United Way of 
Northeast Mississippi. Mr. Neelly was a member of the Salvation Army 
Advisory Board and the 4-H Advisory Board. For eight years, he served 
on the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. 
Additionally, Mr. Neelly served as an elder of the First Presbyterian 
Church in Tupelo.
  Claudia Neelly, Mr. Neelly's wife, said they had a happy life 
together. ``Ed was wonderful to his family,'' Mrs. Neelly said. ``He 
was also wonderful to everyone he met. He always wanted to help 
others.''
  Ed Neelly, IV, Mr. Neelly's son, said he had a special relationship 
with his father. ``My father and I shared a lot of experiences 
together,'' Ed said. ``He was my best friend.''
  Mr. Neelly's funeral was held on February 24, 2018, at the First 
Presbyterian Church in Tupelo. He was laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery 
in Grenada, Mississippi.
  Mr. Neelly is survived by his wife, Claudia; son, Ed Neelly, IV; his 
daughter-in-law, Leigh Carol Neelly; daughter, Perry Erickson; and his 
brothers, Dick Neelly and Mike Neelly. He was preceded in death by his 
parents, Edwin Clyde Neelly, Jr. and Margaret Crenshaw Neelly; and son, 
Tucker McGowan Neelly.
  Mr. Neelly's many contributions stand testament to what can be 
achieved through hard work and the desire to serve others.

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