Harry Kelly (politician)

Infobox Governor
name= Harry Kelly


caption=
order= 39^th
office= Governor of Michigan
term_start= January 1, 1943
term_end= January 1, 1947
lieutenant= 1.Eugene C. Keyes2.Vernon J. Brown
predecessor= Murray Van Wagoner
successor= Kim Sigler
birth_date= April 19 1895
birth_place= Ottawa, Illinois
death_date= February 8 1971
death_place= West Palm Beach, Florida
spouse= Anne V. O'Brien
party=Republican
religion= Roman Catholic

Harry Francis Kelly (April 19 1895 – February 8 1971) was an American politician. He served as a Republican Governor of Michigan from 1943 to 1947.

Early life

Kelly was born in Ottawa, Illinois, [http://www.micourthistory.org/resources/hfkelly.php Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society biography] ] the son of lawyer Henry M. Kelly and Mary E. (Morrissey) Kelly. [http://www.kellyfamilynetwork.com/HenryHome.htm Henry M. Kelly from the Kelly family network (Jan 3, 2008)] ] He spent a year assisting his father in his law office before enrolling atNotre Dame University, where he received an LL.B. degree in 1917. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I, was wounded and lost his right leg in the Battle of Chateau-Thierry, where he also earned the Croix de guerre with palm leaves. Upon his return to the United States, Kelly joined the American Liberty bond drive. [http://www.micourthistory.org/resources/Special%20Sessions/Kelly%20H%20Port%201984.php Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society remarks on portrait unveiling] ]

After the war, Kelly established a career in public service. He served as the state's attorney for LaSalle County, Illinois from 1920 to 1924. [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=3bf86ade05633010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association] ] During that time, his father moved to Detroit to represent General Motors in Michigan. Henry followed when his term as state's attorney ended, joining his father and younger brother Emmett to form the law firm of Kelly, Kelly, and Kelly.

In 1929, Kelly married Anne V. O'Brien and they had six children together. The following year, he became the assistant prosecuting attorney for Wayne County, Michigan, where he served until 1934.

Politics

Kelly was selected by Governor Frank Fitzgerald to head the Detroit area Liquor Control Commission. Fitzgerald later asked him to run for Michigan Secretary of State, and Kelly was elected, serving from 1939-43. When Fitzgerald died suddenly and Lieutenant Governor Luren Dickinson took the Governorship, Dickenson turned to Kelly for assistance, and for approximately two years Harry acted as chief counsel and confidante to Governor Dickinson.

In 1942, the Republican party turned to Kelly as a candidate for governor, and on November 3, 1942, he defeated Democratic Governor Murray Van Wagoner in the general election to become Governor of Michigan. In 1944, while governor, he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated Thomas E. Dewey for U.S. President. [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/kelly4.html#RH801SPQV The Political Graveyard] ] He was elected to a second two-year term in 1946, and during his four years in office, the state government was reorganized and a grand jury was convened to examine misappropriations in the legislature. The War Governor, as he was nicknamed, declined to run for re-election in 1946.

After serving out his second erm, Kelly returned to private practice until, in 1950, the Republican party again asked him to run for governor. He lost a close race to Governor G. Mennen Williams by only 1154 votes. [http://www.kellyfamilynetwork.com/HarryHome.htm Harry F. Kelly from the Kelly family network (Jan 3, 2008)] ]

In 1954, he was nominated by the Repbulican party to a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court. He was elected, and served from 1954-71.

Father of actor Brian Kelly

His son Brian Kelly was an American actor best known for his role as the father on the television series "Flipper". Earlier, Brian Kelly costarred with John Ashley as the co-owner of the "Straightaway Garage" on ABC's "Straightaway", which focuses on auto racing. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446223/bio Brian Kelly at IMDB] ]

Retirement and death

Kelly died at the age of seventy-five while in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery of Southfield, Michigan. [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Kelly&GSfn=Harry+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=24&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=6862080& Find A Grave Memorial] ]

References