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| Affiliation | Nonpartisan |
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| Name | Jack Kelley |
| Address |
Detroit, Michigan , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
00, 1926
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| Died | May 14, 2003
(77 years)
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| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | Thomas Walker
Aug 04, 2005 10:10pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | DETROIT -- Jack Kelley, a colorful councilman known for outspoken battles with the late Mayor Coleman Young's administration, has died at 77.
During 19 years on Detroit's City Council, "he tried hard to help people, and he had a big heart," said council President Maryann Mahaffey. "He was very eager to help others, and he said what he thought."
Kelley died Wednesday, May 14, 2003, of complications from kidney failure in the Hospice Home of Farmington Hills.
After graduating from St. Francis DeSales High School in Detroit, Mr. Kelley joined the Navy and served 30 months in the Pacific in World War II.
Mayor Jerome Cavanagh appointed Mr. Kelley deputy director of the Building and Safety Engineering Department, a post he held for 20 years.
He won a council seat on his fourth try in 1974 with Mahaffey, Erma Henderson and Clyde Cleveland. Mr. Kelley left the council in 1994.
While on the council, Mr. Kelley was known to insult department heads, embarrass colleagues and make derogatory remarks about minority groups.
In 1974, Mr. Kelley climbed onto the council table to snatch papers way from Cleveland. In 1987, he nearly came to blows with Councilman John Peoples.
Still, he was well-respected by his colleagues and other city officials.
"He was a colorful figure who learned to make his point by telling a story," said Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel, whose husband, Kenneth Cockrel, was a colleague of Mr. Kelley's. "He was a very colorful figure in the annals of the city's leadership."
In a parting shot at Young during his last council meeting, Mr. Kelley helped block a Cobo Center wiring contract with an out-of-state company.
At the same meeting, Tamara Harmon, a former deputy director of the Community and Economic Development Department, said after one exchange: "Oh, Councilman Kelley, you're not going to see me anymore."
The outgoing councilman shot back: "And I'm happy!"
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen; two daughters, Denise Dow and Mary Ann Toaz; two sons, Mike and Kevin; eight grandchildren; and a sister.
Visitation will be held from 1-9 p.m. today in the O'Brien-Sullivan Funeral Home, 41555 Grand River, Novi.
Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Gerard Church, Detroit. His body will be cremated.
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