JAMES B. KELLY ’52 —FOREVER A FIGHTIN’ TEXAS AGGIE
1931-2018
James Burton Kelly was born in Ft. Worth, Texas, on July 1, 1931, to parents Franklin F. and Vera Burton Kelly. He died on March 7, 2018, at home on his ranch in Brenham, Texas, at the age of 86, after a brief illness. During his lifetime, Jim distinguished himself as a successful business leader and rancher, devoted father and husband, world traveler, critical thinker, and devoted Texas Aggie.
At A&M, Jim embraced the disciplined life of the Corps of Cadets, and four years later he’d march one last time, for Final Review. The camaraderie of his Class of 1952 remained solid throughout his life..
Professionally, Jim was an executive for Ranger Insurance Group, Aviation Office of America, Aviation Insurance Group, and James B. Kelly & Co., Inc. He was an underwriting member of Lloyd’s of London. In Houston, he was a member of the Downtown Houston Rotary Club, Chairman of the Rotary Texas Steering Committee of the “Hunters for the Hungry” program and the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
In precious spare time, Jim was an accomplished, awardwinning game hunter, which meant numerous adventures traveling across Africa, Australia, Europe, Mexico, and South America accompanied by his wife Linda. .
Above all career accomplishments, Jim Kelly loved— and was always devoted to— Texas A&M. and The Corps of Cadets and the James B. Kelly ’52 Reviewing Stand was dedicated on September 21, 2001. This historic reviewing stand was made possible by private donation from Aggies. Jim, who served for five years as Chair of the Corps of Cadets Development Council, provided the lead gift of $100,000 and then encouraged 12 of his classmates to join him. He honored his days as a Cadet as a Sul Ross Scholarship donor and on October 1, 2005. Jim was inducted into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor
A multiple scholarship donor, Jim was an Endowed Diamond Century Club Member to the Association of Former Students. As class agent for the Class of ’52, Jim kept tabs on all his classmates for many years while keeping them informed of current events at Aggieland. He also threw an annual barbeque on his ranch in Brenham for “100 of his closest friends,” mostly Aggies (or future Aggies).
Jim enjoyed studying genealogy and loved exploring Ireland in his frequent travels there, researching his roots. Jim never grew tired of learning; he was driven by passion for life, love of family, and permanent devotion to providing for the future of Texas A&M.
Jim is survived by his wife Linda, of Brenham, Texas; daughter, Rebecca Kelly of Cañon City, Colorado, her daughter Kelly Guettlein, her son, Jacob Patterson, both of College Station, Texas; son, James B. Kelly, Jr., his wife, Sonia, and their daughters, Briana Garcia, and Kaitlin Kelly, all of Laredo, Texas.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 16, from 6-8pm, at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Bryan, Texas. Life tribute services, officiated by Rev. John Gordon Burton, are set for 11am–12pm at CallawayJones, followed by interment at the Aggie Field of Honor in College Station.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial gifts to the A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840. Checks can be made payable to A&M Foundation with the designation “Corps of Cadets General Scholarship Fund in Memory of James B. Kelly ’52.”