SR0018 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0018 LRB102 10305 ECR 15632 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Norman "Norm" V. Kelly of Peoria, who passed away on August 4, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Norm Kelly was born to Orris and Lillian (Ryan) Kelly in Peoria on April 24, 1932; he graduated from Woodruff High School in 1950; he served in the Korean War as a Staff Sergeant in a medical unit; after the war, he attended Bradley University and graduated in 1958; he married Gloria Keith in Peoria on September 23, 1961; and

WHEREAS, Norm Kelly worked as a private investigator and as a paralegal; he was a well known radio personality who appeared on all of the local talk shows in Peoria as well as several T.V. shows; he was a frequent speaker at service clubs and luncheons; and

WHEREAS, Norm Kelly was an accomplished writer who had written ten books about the history of Peoria, mostly focusing on the bawdy, seedy, and dangerous elements of Peoria's long history from 1845 through 1950; he also wrote the book Officer Down, which chronicled the death of officers that had died in the line of duty in Peoria; Genisis: The Park Murders was his penultimate book, which sold out the first two printings; his last book was False Face; he was a member of the prestigious Mystery Writers of America for many years; and

WHEREAS, Norm Kelly also wrote close to 300 short stories, including mystery, fiction, and adventure pieces; he wrote hundreds of articles about Peoria and wrote for NEWS and VIEWS and stories for The Times Observer, Arts and Society, Journal Star, and Downstate Story; he had stories printed in multiple newspapers, America's Most Wanted, dozens of newsletters, and Central Illinois Business Publishers; he wrote the play The Case of the Missing Manuscript for the Peoria Library; this play was shown on local TV and starred local celebrities; and

WHEREAS, Norm Kelly discovered that PFC Zimmerman, the first soldier with ties to Peoria to die in the Korean War, was not on the Korean Monument in Peoria; PFC Zimmerman was added to the monument after this discovery; he wrote stories of five officers that had died in the line of duty but were never honored, and their names are now on all three police memorials in Illinois and in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Norm Kelly was selected as a Distinguished Alumni of Woodruff High School in 2006; he was awarded the Landin Award from the Peoria Park District and two distinguished service awards from the Peoria and State Police Departments; he represented the United States as the U.S. Clue Champion in 1986 in New York City; he gave $12,000 to local non-profit organizations in Peoria over the years; and

WHEREAS, Norm Kelly was preceded in death by his parents and his eight siblings; and

WHEREAS, Norm Kelly is survived by his wife; his daughter, Lynne Renee (Paul) Schelly; his son, Keith (Angie) Kelly; his grandchildren, Brooke (Chris) Galvan and Sam Schelly; his sister, Sara Shatto; his brother, David (Debbie) Kelly; and his several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Norman "Norm" V. Kelly and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Norm Kelly as an expression of our deepest sympathy.