Kelly made papers, but avoided headlines

Over his 86 years, the late Fort Worth lawyer Dee J. Kelly Sr. was rarely on the front page.

But he was always in the papers:

1943, Bonham Daily Favorite: “The Bonham Purple Warriors’ passing attack has improved. … If D.J. Kelly learns how to run, he’ll see plenty of action.”

1945, Paris (TX) News: “D.J. Kelly of Bonham [writes] … ‘The guys in Bonham would appreciate it if you would match up a game. We think we can lick ya!’ ”

1949, the Favorite: “D.J. Kelly left for Washington and the office of Speaker Sam Rayburn. … He has been at TCU where he was student president.”

1964, the Star-Telegram: “Kelly, oil and gas attorney and general counsel for the Moncrief oil interests, has opened a general law practice.”

1970: “The gregarious Kelly’s speech in precise bursts has been described as ‘like talking to a loaded machine gun.’ ”

1970: “In case Kelly’s neighbors wondered why all the cars were around his Rivercrest home, it’s because President Johnson came to call.”

1977: “Kelly is not bashful. … Once, Kelly got a call from President Johnson saying he needed $50,000. Kelly got it by making three phone calls.”

1979: “Sen. Lloyd Bentsen is a house guest of Kelly. There is much talk about Bentsen as a Ted Kennedy running mate.”

1980: “Kelly will serve as chairman of Democrats for Reagan-Bush.”

1982: “Kelly has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Johnson, but will support other Democrats. … He still considers himself a ‘Sam Rayburn Democrat.’ ”

1983: “Kelly is the new head of the Jim Wright Congressional Club. … His favorite political axiom: ‘The people who last longest in politics are the ones who keep their commitments.’ ”

1983: “Once, Kelly was a youthful lay preacher in Disciples of Christ churches. ‘My mother sure was disappointed,’ he said, ‘when she found out I was going to be a lawyer.’ ”

1983: “In 1969 in Jamaica, playing golf with University of Texas football Coach Darrell Royal as a partner and with a bet on the game, Kelly blew a 1-foot putt on No. 18. He angrily stormed off in a golf cart with a frightened Royal as a passenger. Kelly overturned the vehicle in a ravine. ‘That putt cost Darrell a lot of money,’ Kelly remembered. ‘Darrell hasn’t been as friendly since then.’ ”

1989: “ ‘I’m the one who persuaded [oilman and Texas Rangers owner] Eddie Chiles to get into the baseball business,’ Kelly said. ‘I’ve been trying to dodge him ever since.’ ”

1989: “Fort Worth lawyer John McBryde recalls a time at Kelly’s apartment … Kelly, absorbed in phone conversation, never noticed McBryde’s dachshund chewing off a pant cuff.”

1989: “Kelly, wearing a bathrobe and with his ever-present cigar, sauntered out of his home to get the newspaper and realized he had locked himself out. Kelly scaled a tall wrought-iron fence, only to catch his bathrobe, and hung impaled there commanding attention from a passing funeral procession.”

He worked hard, played hard, and always drove the hardest and best deal for Fort Worth.

This story was originally published October 3, 2015 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Kelly made papers, but avoided headlines."