[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 4, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1190-E1191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE DEE J. KELLY LAW 
       LEARNING CENTER AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 4, 2018

  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the dedication of 
the Dee J. Kelly Law Learning Center at George Washington University 
Law School.
  Dee J. Kelly, Sr. was a dear friend of mine. His dedication and 
public service to Fort Worth pioneered the growth and development that 
we see in the community today. The dedication of the Dee J. Kelly Law 
Learning Center is well-deserved, and I was honored to be invited to 
the very special event. I include in the Record the remarks of those 
who spoke at the ceremony last Friday, August 31, 2018.


 Remarks by Blake Morant, Dean of the George Washington University Law 
                                 School

       It is indeed a great privilege for me to lead this 
     dedication ceremony--my first since arriving at GW Law four 
     years ago. Dee J. Kelly was an extraordinarily distinguished 
     and cherished alumnus of our law school whose contributions 
     to GW Law and the legal profession were myriad. I will be 
     honored to say a few words about Mr. Kelly's illustrious life 
     and career in a moment, but first I would like to express my 
     heartfelt gratitude to Cindy, Craig, Dee Jr. and the rest of 
     the Kelly family for your immense generosity.
       Many thanks, as well, to the dedicated faculty and staff of 
     the GW Law community for their invaluable contributions 
     through the years. And finally, a special thank you to Dean 
     Scott Pagel and Karen Whal for your many hours of work with 
     the Kelly family to archive and display the fascinating 
     collection of Dee J. Kelly's memorabilia.
       The late Dee J. Kelly, who graduated from our law school in 
     1954, was a giant of the legal profession, whose myriad 
     accomplishments brought us great pride. Mr. Kelly, who 
     founded Kelly Hart & Hallman, was one of the most prominent 
     lawyers in Texas with offices in Fort Worth, Austin, New 
     Orleans and Midland. He was also a force in state politics as 
     a fundraiser and power broker on the local level in Fort 
     Worth and as the friend of numerous governors, state 
     officials and U.S. presidents.
       In addition to his myriad professional achievements, he is 
     remembered as a philanthropist and served on a number of 
     nonprofit boards including the Van Cliburn Foundation, Sam 
     Rayburn Foundation, and UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer 
     Center.
       Finally, he was a great supporter of education as evidenced 
     by his support of his undergraduate alma mater, Texas 
     Christian University (TCU), his law school GW Law, and other 
     Texas institutions including Texas A&M University School of 
     Law. His name will live on in perpetuity here at GW Law, 
     where we will forever be proud to call him an alumnus of our 
     law school.


Remarks by Thomas J. LeBlanc, President of George Washington University

       Thank you, Dean Morant. I am delighted to join all of you 
     to honor the legacy of Dee Kelly, Sr., and to celebrate the 
     dedication of the Dee J. Kelly Law Learning Center.
       I am so pleased that the Kelly family could be here today 
     for this special occasion. I especially want to thank Cindy, 
     Craig and Dee, whose collective philanthropy in memory of 
     their father has made today's dedication possible. I would 
     also like to thank the current and former public officials 
     here for joining us.
       We are here today to celebrate the dedication and loyalty 
     of Dee Kelly to his alma mater.
       From what I have learned about the life of the late Dee J. 
     Kelly, Sr., his legacy of service through law and 
     philanthropy embodies what it means to be a GW Law alumnus, 
     and we are pleased to continue his legacy for generations of 
     GW Law students to come.
       I know that our students will be inspired and motivated by 
     Dee's incredible life and career, which were distinguished by 
     hard work, diligence and a commitment to all that he did--
     and, as such, the resulting success and respect he earned and 
     deserved from so many, including each of us here today.

[[Page E1191]]

       With this generous gift and through the naming of the Dee 
     J. Kelly Law Learning Center, we hope to honor Dee's memory 
     by continuing to foster a dynamic, student-focused community 
     stimulated by cultural and intellectual diversity. I think 
     the studying, legal research and moot court competitions our 
     students hold here will help to do just that.


                      Remarks by Dee J. Kelly, Jr.

       Thank you Dean Morant and President LeBlanc. I should 
     mention that LeBlanc is a very important name in our family. 
     It is not only my mother's maiden name--and she will be very 
     excited to see the pictures from today--but also my brother's 
     middle name. I want to introduce my brother Craig, his wife, 
     Robyn, and their two boys, Patrick and Ryan.
       And I could never forget the President of the Dee Kelly 
     Foundation, my wonderful sister, Cindy. She's a tough steward 
     of the Foundation's dollars but a soft touch when it comes to 
     honoring our father. Cindy is joined by one of her two sons, 
     Kelly, and his wife Paige. Her oldest son, Ben, just moved to 
     California and his new employer has him hard at work but he's 
     represented today by his beautiful wife, Shelby.
       And of course my group is here as well. I want to recognize 
     my wife, Dana, and two of my three girls, Lynn and Cate. 
     Number three, Camille, just started classes and is allegedly 
     studying hard. Yes, that's a look of skepticism on my face.
       A couple more thank you's. Two active members of Congress 
     took the time to be with us today. I know they both have many 
     other important duties to attend to but they still made time 
     to be here. Back home, we know them as just Kay and Roger, 
     but in Washington they are known as two of our finest members 
     of the House of Representatives. Thank you Congresswoman 
     Granger and Congressman Williams. Your presence means a great 
     deal to my family. And you know my father loved you both.
       Last but not least are two former pols who were dear 
     friends of my father. Pete Geren and Ben Barnes. Thank you 
     both for being here.
       Today's event would have meant a lot to my father . . . and 
     not just because his name is splashed across the building 
     over there. GW was the school that launched Dee Kelly's 
     career and set him off on a course that lead to great success 
     and, lucky for all of us today, financial reward. I doubt Dad 
     would have ever dreamt when he was working for Speaker 
     Rayburn and going to night school at GW, that he'd have a 
     building on campus dedicated in his honor.
       I think what he'd say today, if he was alive, is that this 
     building is about honoring those who gave him a chance in 
     life and helped set him off on a course for success. Our 
     father clawed and scratched, and yes sometimes fought, his 
     way to the top of the legal profession, and I know that he 
     credited GW for giving him the legs to stand on to build his 
     career
       So thank you again, President LeBlanc and Dean Morant. By 
     honoring my father, you honor all students who are hoping 
     education gives them a chance in life. I know that--because 
     my father was one of those lucky few

                          ____________________