Bill Kelly

Bill was born in Houston, where he Graduated Valedictorian from Austin Senior High School. He attended Rice University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1962. He received his Masters and PhD in Economics from the University of Maryland in 1969. Upon graduation, Bill moved to Dallas as Director of Research for the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank. In 1976, he left the Federal Reserve to go into the energy industry where he worked for United Gas Pipeline, Celeron (later Tenneco), and Arkla, where he was named Chief Financial Officer. After successfully leading a number of mergers and acquisitions, he elected to retire from the company, currently recognized as Reliant Energy, in 1998.

Bill was a natural athlete, playing both basketball and freshmen baseball at Rice. Upon graduation, he became a very talented and avid golfer, winning the Texas State Lefthanders Championship. He was named the Riverbend Senior Club Champion and Club Champion in 1997, and went on to win the Devlin Cup Trophy later the same year. In 2003, he was the Houston Golf Association Senior Amateur Champion. Bill loved the game of golf and was very proud of winning a local tournament “shooting his age” of 69!

Bill had a heart for the Lord and was an active member at Second Baptist Church, in Houston, serving as a Deacon, Sunday School Director, member of the Pastor’s Prayer Team, and an active member of the Cross Training Bible Study Class.

Bill is predeceased by his mother, Mary Rust Kelly and his father, Herman Floyd Kelly. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Malbie Parker Kelly; his two daughters, Kari Kelly Dillard and Kimberly Kelly West; and his five grandchildren, Justin, Cole, Matthew, Abbey, and Brady. Bill is also survived by his twin brother, Dr. Thomas Kelly; and his older brother, Herman Kelly.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 29th of September, in the Library and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 30th of September, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Deacons’ Parlor.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment service at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Bill’s name may be directed to Second Loves Kids, c/o Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX, 77057.