Mr. Roland Kelley

ROLAND KELLEY

MARCH 30, 1930 – October 30, 2021

Roland passed from this life on to Eternity on Saturday, October 30, 2021. Roland was born on March 30, 1930, to Lottie & W. E. Kelley in Monroe, La. He was one of 6 children. When Roland was in grammar school, his 3rd grade teacher was especially hard on him. He would be sent to the hall, but he was so well liked by other teachers, they would reach out to him. That 3rd grade teacher said Roland would never amount to anything. Roland was in the 9th grade for only 2 weeks. He lied about his age and begged his Mother to let him join the Military. She relented knowing he would NEVER be accepted. In September 1946, at age 16, just after the end of World War II, Roland enlisted and was taken into the Army/Air Corp. Roland was sent to Japan for 3 years – he was never in a plane always on a ship. Roland was discharged in 1949 at the rank of Sergeant and went to New Jersey where some of his family had relocated. In 1952, Roland returned to Monroe where his Dad still lived and to attend Northeast College. Roland became active in the Baptist Student Union and started attending College Place Baptist Church. Roland had made many friends at the College because of the BSU. He and Ann met on December 13, 1952 at College Place Baptist Church. Roland was again baptized as an adult that December, before the Pastor left to be a missionary. Roland was a Sophomore at Northeast and decided to change from a Business Administration major to Education (mainly because of that 3rd grade teacher). Being on the GI Bill, for some reason, the College failed to obtain permission from the Government allowing him to change majors. The Dean stood by Roland and he went on to study Education under the GI Bill. He took 21 hours his last semester, which included ‘student teaching’ at the same high school he only attended for 2 weeks. He was on the Dean’s List, did Preaching at Selman Field Mission sponsored by College Place Baptist Church, worked at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home driving the bus and doing all their laundry. AND dated Ann. Roland graduated from Northeast on Sunday, June 5, 1955 and married Ann on Friday, June 10, 1955. Theirs was the largest attended wedding at College Place at that time, as the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home was in attendance.

Roland was still on the GI Bill and had been accepted at Louisiana State University (LSU). In

September 1955, Roland and Ann moved to Baton Rouge so Roland could work on his Masters. But in about 8 months, Roland felt God calling them to leave and move to Fort Worth, so he could attend Southwestern Baptist Seminary. On May 12, 1956, with a small trailer, they were off to Fort Worth, not knowing a soul. Ann found a secretarial job and Roland enrolled at Southwestern. After a semester, the Seminary suggested Roland go to Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth and finish his Masters’ and then return to the Seminary. So, Roland enrolls at Texas Wesleyan. Near the end of his first semester in the Graduate School, the Head of the Business Administration Department asked Roland if he would teach Business in the Undergraduate School for two semesters while they found a Director. Roland and Ann prayed about it and he accepted. The pay so low because it included faculty housing on campus. So, he and Ann moved to the 2nd floor of the Faculty Housing facility. Ann would come home from work and their apartment had many students who were getting extra academic help from their teacher, Roland. At the end of the second semester, the Personnel Director at Texas Wesleyan asked Roland if he would like to talk with the Personnel Director at the Arlington Independent School system, who happened to be his friend. Roland didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Again Roland and Ann prayed. Roland went for the interview and was hired to teach Business Administration at Arlington High School, the only High School at that time. For several semesters Roland taught but felt God calling him into the business world so he could afford the Seminary. Teaching pay was about $3,600 a year and Roland just knew God wanted him to attend the Seminary. BUT after 2 years at Texas Electric, God changed Roland’s mind. Roland contacted the Personnel Director at Arlington Independent School District, who remembered Roland AND he was rehired (something they rarely did!). This time he taught at the new Ferguson Jr. High. One of his students had caused a classroom problem, Billy Kidd. After class, Roland took Billy to the Principal’s office and with a witness, Roland gave Billy a few licks. Billy was a big kid and afterwards, he looked at Roland and said, “Thank you Mr. Kelley. I needed that!” Billy was Roland’s shadow there afterwards and a great student. We have often wondered where Billy Kidd is now.

Then Roland was asked to teach at the new Sam Houston High School there in Arlington and he would be teaching “Distributive Education”. That was a program where the student was put on a job after class, to learn about the business world. Roland was given a ‘temporary building’, a refrigerator and coffee pot. Roland found out the ‘worst of the worst’ students were being placed in this new ‘program’. By the end of the first semester, Cheerleaders, the President of the Student Body, football players, and the best of the best students were in his Classes. A few years later, the State Director of DE contacted Roland and said he wanted Roland to teach at Grayson County Junior College between Sherman/Denison. This was July 1966. It was a new program – Mid-Management, funded by the Kellogg Foundation and Roland would be 1 of 4 instructors in the State of Texas. Roland and Ann realized God was opening another door for them. Since he and Ann had no children, the College asked Ann to be the Dorm Supervisor at the new and only dorm on campus. And to help financially, their apartment was rent free, and Ann was paid $200.00 a month. There was a CATCH – their apartment was BETWEEN the mens’ and womens’ apartments and she and Roland got one weekend off a month. Having no children experience, Roland and Ann quickly learned how to be parents. Roland laughed when the male students told Ann ‘she was harder on them than their Mothers.’ That made it easier on Roland.

After 7 months, April 1967, Roland received a call from the President, Dr. McKinney, at the new Tarrant County Junior College South Campus, which was opening in September 1967. THIS was an answer to prayer, as he and Ann had prayed God would bring them back to the Fort Worth area. When South Campus opened that September 1967, Roland realized they had made him Department Chairman of Mid-Management. Remember he was only 1 of 4 in 1966 to be teaching in that State program. In 1968, Roland’s Department was moved to the new Northeast Campus in Hurst.

After about 3 years, Roland was asked to be Head of the Business Administration Department. This department became 55 professors that Roland was responsible TO and FOR. During this time, Roland was working on his Ph.D. at North Texas University when two of his professors asked him to write a Textbook with them. Which he did and wrote several other textbooks. Roland never finished his Ph. D. After about 20+ years, Roland stepped down at TCJC to teach in the Classroom only and the College divided his Department into 4 disciplines.

To share and say all of this about Roland – He knew God had brought him and Ann to Fort Worth to be a teacher. In over 40 years, Roland never applied for a teaching position. And he NEVER regretted having to go each day into the classroom. He received a note from one student at TCJC that stated “Mr. Kelley, I know you are a Christian, because of the way you teach and care about your students.” This is the greatest compliment a teacher/instructor can receive. Roland was never in teaching for the money, but for the satisfaction he was doing what God had wanted him to do all along. And remember his 3rd grade teacher told him he would never amount to anything. BUT God knew better!

From the time Roland and Ann met, they have always been members of a Southern Baptist Church. Their Church friendships have remained since being members of Fort Worth Travis Avenue, Arlington First Baptist, twice, Bedford First Baptist, Hurst Shady Oaks Baptist, Dallas Park Cities Baptist, Grapevine First Baptist, and presently at North Fort Worth Baptist. Roland was also a Deacon at First Grapevine. They have always been active in making friends and sharing God’s Grace.

When the Irving Cowboy Stadium opened, Roland and Ann became Dallas Cowboy faithful fans for 36 years. They had 3 other couples who attended all the games together. In 2004 Roland and Ann became faithful Dallas Maverick Basketball full season fans thanks to Eric Ferrell. They would ride the TRE and got to know all the employees and Fort Worth Police Officers. They would bring cookies or sweets for each person. Then when they had to stop riding the TRE and go by car, they would take cookies or sweets for the AAC parking man, the AAC Dallas Police Officers and many of the AAC staff. Tony, in Security would be there with a wheelchair for Roland. They are thankful for their friendship with Cynthia Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and Dave Brown, COO and GM of American Airlines Center and their care of fans.

Roland and Ann were season ticket fans for the Las Colinas Symphony from 1991 until 2018, and on the Board of Directors for 26 years. Roland and Ann also helped start Symphony Arlington and the Lone Star Youth Orchestra.

Roland and Ann received the first “CROWN AWARD” give to them by Colleyville Covenant Christian Academy. And they received the “Northeast Tarrant Chamber HOMETOWN HERO award”.

God has blessed Roland and Ann with 66 plus years of marriage. Roland’s last few years have been bumpy, but he always knew God was there and every day was a blessing. He never complained.

Not having children, our Friends are all gifts from God. “Friends, be blessed, as you have blessed Roland and Ann.” We thank several of our special friends, Phyllis & Larry Tresnicky, and Sharon & Carl Sundeen. And our great neighbors and friends, Sharon & Mitch Baugus and Roseann & Jon Evans, Carolyn Fleming, and Sandra Shipp. AND so many others. Roland’s survivors include Clair & George Kesnig, his sister in New Jersey; a nephew, Dr. Ken Boa. A special thank you to the Care Givers and Jennifer Markum at Grand Brook Memory Care, Cynthia Garcia, RN, Ginny Patterson, RN, and Anchor of Hope Hospice for making Roland’s last days so kind and caring. We thank our Primary Care Physician Dr. Edwin del Rosario and his Staff for their caring. Also, Allison and Matt, Pharmacists and the Technicians at WalMart Neighborhood Colleyville Pharmacy for being so helpful.

Roland and Ann were blessed with her loving and caring Cousin, Robby Lynn and her husband, Paul Sieminski. “ Robby and Paul, Thank you for being there for us. You were and are a blessing and a gift. We are so grateful for YOU TWO”.

Rev. Rick Lineberger, our former Pastor, has lovingly and graciously accepted doing Roland’s funeral and Roland was so pleased.

Roland’s life will be celebrated at a graveside service, Friday, November 12, at 1:00 pm, at Bluebonnet Memorial Park in Colleyville. Live streaming is arranged.

PLEASE PLEASE: NO flowers. If you would like to remember Roland, he asked that you please consider contributing to either:

Colleyville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Assoc. Inc.

P. O. Box 2033

Colleyville, TX 76034-2033

Colleyville Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Assoc.

5209 Colleyville Blvd.

Colleyville, TX 76034-5830

North Fort Worth Baptist Church

5801 North Freeway

Fort Worth, TX 76131-2099

Dallas Baptist University – Scholarship Fund

3000 Mountain Creek Parkway

Dallas, TX 75211-9299

Colleyville Covenant Christian Academy

901 Cheek Sparger Road

Colleyville, TX 76034

Roland thanks you for your love and caring.

I am blessed to have you as friends. Ann