Obituaries
Charles H. (Chuck) Kelly
Tuesday, 07 August 2012
Services for Charles H. (Chuck) Kelly were held on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton, Texas. Reverend Mike Randolph and Pastor Arthur Washburn officiated.
Mr. Kelly passed away at his home in Belton on Thursday, August 2, 2012. He was born March 2, 1932 in Dallas, Texas to Herman H. Boyle and Leoma Fowler Boyle. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, and was a Fine Arts/Drama major at San Antonio College. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 during the Korean Conflict, stationed in places including Okinawa as Airplane Crew Chief, flying regularly to Hong Kong, Japan, and Formosa.
Following his honorable discharge from the military, Mr. Kelly began a 50-year career in radio broadcasting. While working at KTSA, a top-rated Rock & Roll station, he was the first broadcaster to break the news to the greater South Texas area that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. He later moved to Austin as Program Director, where he enjoyed number one in the ratings at KNOW radio. Here he also emceed shows for performers including such artists as The Beach Boys, Conway Twitty, Buck Owens, and Merle Haggard. During this time, he also enjoyed his favorite hobby of stock car racing. While in Austin, he met his wife, the former Zona Preece of Belton. The couple celebrated their 46-year anniversary in July of this year.
Mr. Kelly also worked at the 50,000 watt KOMA in Oklahoma City and the top country format KENR in Houston. Locally, Chuck is best remembered for his morning show at Belton's former station KTON, and KOOV in Copperas Cove. In addition, he was the play-by-play and color announcer, along with Joe Lombardi, for football games for the Belton Tigers, then later for both football and basketball games for the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs and Lampasas Badgers. He was also a licensed realtor, and a million-dollar agent with Century 21 in Copperas Cove and Killeen. He also taught Telecommunications classes at the former Central Texas College in Killeen.
Mr. Kelly and family moved to Lometa, Texas in 1988. After retiring from radio broadcasting, he worked as Sports Editor for the Lampasas Dispatch Record. He also co-owned a family restaurant in Lometa.
After his and Zona's relocation to Belton in 2006, Mr. Kelly was Sports Editor for the Belton Journal up until his death.
Mr. Kelly served as Mayor for the City of Lometa for three terms; Lometa City Councilman for two terms. He was a past director for the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce, Central Texas Council of Governments, Temple-Fort Hood Area Communities in Schools, Sprint-Centel Regional Citizens Advisory Committee, Director for Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce, Lometa Lions member, and American Legion member.
He was president of the Belton Baseball Association during the late 1970's and coached winning Little League teams for several years.
Mr. Kelly was a member of the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ in Belton. Survivors include his wife, Zona; one son Charles H. (Chuck) Kelly and wife Melissa of Bedford; six daughters: Janna Tompson of Canada; Debora Kelly Emery of New York; Christianne Boyle of San Antonio; Mona Kelly Fitch of Waco; Dina Murphy and husband Pat of Rockport; Candice Kelly Hyman and husband Aaron of Belton; twelve grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
