Huntingdon, Tenn. –Former Mayor Dale Kelley–whose influence and impact stretched across the city of Huntingdon, Carroll County, Bethel University, the Dixie Center for the Performing Arts, West Tennessee and the entire state of Tennessee–has died.
Kelley died Saturday evening at his home in Huntingdon. He was 82. Funeral arrangements at Dilday-Carter Funeral Home are incomplete.
In a statement issued Saturday night, Congressman David Kustoff said he and his wife Roberta are saddened by the loss of Kelley, who he said was a ‘giant of a public servant at the state and local level’.
Bethel President Walter Butler said of the passing of his longtime friend: “Our hearts are saddened with the passing of our Bethel University alumni, former co-worker and dear friend. His legacy to our university as a student, graduate and Director of Athletics will live on for generations to come. Dale Kelley lived his life to help others in our area, state and even across our nation. He lived to improve our local area and to create jobs that changed lives. He loved to help young people achieve their goals. Our local area has lost truly ‘one of a kind’. I have never met anyone like Dale Kelley. He has been my friend since 1963 when he became my Little League Baseball Coach.”
President Butler said, “Our prayers are with his wife, Carlene and his three children–Amanda, Meredith and Cliff and their families. We mourn with his family but can rejoice in the fact that we were blessed to know a Coach, a County Official, a State Representative, a Mayor, a Commissioner, an Athletic Director and a friend to all. Our lives were blessed because we all knew Dale.”
Bethel University officials cited the debt the university owed to Kelley in a statement issued Saturday night.
“The entire Bethel University family is mourning the loss of beloved Athletics Hall of Fame member and former Director of Athletics at the school in the passing of Dale Kelley. Mr. Kelley passed away early Saturday evening at his home in Huntingdon surrounded by his loving family.
“Kelley recently stepped down as athletics director after serving in that capacity since July 2012.
“Mr. Kelley not only had immeasurable impact on Bethel, the city of Huntingdon, Carroll County and West Tennessee but also leaves a legacy across the entire state of Tennessee and nation.
“Kelley served three Tennessee governors – as Commissioner of Employment Security and Commissioner of Transportation under Lamar Alexander, as a member of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission under Don Sundquist, and as Senior Advisor and Special Assistant to Governor Bill Haslam.
Kelley was Coordinator of Officials for the Big 12 Conference, Conference USA, Sun Belt Conference, Southland Conference and Ohio Valley Conference. Kelley was known nationally as one of the best NCAA basketball officials in the history of the game. He was also an accomplished athlete as a basketball and baseball player at Bethel College. In addition to the Bethel Athletics Hall of Fame, Kelley was a member of the TSSAA Hall of Fame, the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. He served on the Board of Directors for Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Kelley served three terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives as well as nine years on the Huntingdon School Board. He was the Mayor of Huntingdon at the time of his passing, a role he held for 30 years.
Additionally, Kelley was the owner of K & K Real Estate and Rental Properties.
“Mr. Kelley had a lengthy list of leadership accomplishments. He was instrumental in the construction of Carroll County’s 1,000-acre recreational lake. He led the vision and development of the Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center. He played a key role in attracting and securing the $240 million industrial expansion of Norandal USA Inc. to Huntingdon, and he worked with state and local teams for the location of Behlen Manufacturing Co. in Huntingdon’s vacant industrial building in 1999. As Commissioner of Transportation, he selected the site and appropriated funding for the Carroll County Airport.”
Kelley was the 1985 Bethel College Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award winner, and he was the first recipient of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce’s Carroll Countian of the Year honor. Kelley was a Carroll County Silver Medallion Award winner and a recipient of Huntingdon’s Pinnacle of Excellence Award for outstanding leadership and accomplishments in government, athletics and community. Under his leadership, Huntingdon received the Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Award and the 2007 Governor’s Award in the Arts. Kelley was inducted into the Bethel Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.
Bethel Director of Athletics, Brad Chappell said, “Dale Kelley’s impact on West Tennessee as a civic leader and visionary will be felt by generations to come. His impact on collegiate athletics is legendary, and his impact on me personally is profound. It simply cannot be put into words – I will miss him and my heart aches for his family. Bethel University mourns with them.”
Bethel President Walter Butler expressed his thoughts on the passing of his longtime friend. “Our hearts are saddened with the passing of our Bethel University alumni, former co-worker and dear friend. His legacy to our university as a student, graduate and Director of Athletics will live on for generations to come. Dale Kelley lived his life to help others in our area, state and even across our nation. He lived to improve our local area and to create jobs that changed lives. He loved to help young people achieve their goals. Our local area has lost truly ‘one of a kind’. I have never met anyone like Dale Kelley. He has been my friend since 1963 when he became my Little League Baseball Coach.”
President Butler added, “Our prayers are with his wife, Carlene and his three children–Amanda, Meredith and Cliff and their families. We mourn with his family but can rejoice in the fact that we were blessed to know a Coach, a County Official, a State Representative, a Mayor, a Commissioner, an Athletic Director and a friend to all. Our lives were blessed because we all knew Dale.”