Larry Kelly
{{Short description|American politician and engineer (born c. 1935)}}
{{for|the American football player of the 1930s|Larry Kelley}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Larry Kelly
| image =
| order =
| office = Mayor of Daytona Beach, Florida
| term_start = 1974
| term_end = 1993
| predecessor = Richard Kane{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KwBmPv0fV6EC&q=richard+kane+mayor+of+daytona+from+to|title = Central Florida Corridor Transportation Conference: Sheraton-Orlando Jet Port Inn, Orlando, Florida, November 7, 1973|year = 1973}}
| successor = Paul Carpenella
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|82|2017|12|15}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20171215/retired-mayor-police-commissioner-tackle-daytonas-79-cold-cases|title=Retired mayor, police commissioner tackle Daytona's 79 cold cases|last=Holt|first=Tony|work=Daytona Beach News|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en}}
| birth_place = Carbondale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| profession =
| residence =
| spouse = {{marriage|Joan Kelly||2015|end=died}}
| children = 5
| religion =
| party =
}}
Lawrence J. Kelly Sr.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-on-the-move/139759152/ |title=On the Move |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |page=K12 |date=November 17, 2002 |accessdate=January 28, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-kudos/139759510/ |title=Kudos |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |page=D5A |date=November 21, 2001 |accessdate=January 28, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} (born c. 1935) is an American former politician and logistics engineer. He served as the mayor of Daytona Beach, Florida, for 12 consecutive terms from 1974 to 1993. He was instrumental with getting MTV to showcase Spring Break in Daytona Beach during 1986–1993, although he later lamented it was a mistake because locals experienced many problems due to it.
Biography
Kelly, who was born circa 1935, is a native of Carbondale, Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Air Force.
Kelly was a logistics engineer by profession. In 1963, he and his wife moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, while Kelly was employed by General Electric.{{Cite news|url=http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170520/1960s-in-daytona-beach---when-everything-changed|title=1960s in Daytona Beach — When everything changed|last=Lane|first=Mark|work=Daytona Beach News|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en}} He retired from General Electric in 1991.{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/10/20/daytonas-mayor-out-in-13th-bid/|title=Daytona's Mayor Out In 13th Bid|last=Lancaster|first=Cory Jo|date=1993-10-20|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=2013-07-30}} In 1994, the gridiron at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach (now known as Daytona Stadium) was named for him.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uOTRCgAAQBAJ&q=%22larry+kelly%22+%22daytona+beach%22&pg=PA89|title=Legendary Locals of Daytona Beach|last=Lane|first=Mark|date=2015|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=9781467102223|language=en}}
In 2000, Kelly was elected to the board of directors of the Stewart-Marchman Foundation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/11/21/larry-kelly-sr-was-re-elected-to-a-second/|title=Larry Kelly Sr. Was Re-elected To A Second|work=tribunedigital-orlandosentinel|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en}} In 2017, Kelly joined with retired Yonkers, New York, police commissioner Albert McEvoy to solve Daytona Beach cold cases.{{Cite web|url=https://omny.fm/shows/daytona-beach-news-journal-audio-on-demand/playlists/cold-case-detectives|title=Cold Case Detectives - From the Newsroom: The Daytona Beach News Journal - Omny.fm|website=omny.fm|access-date=2018-05-29}}
= Politics =
Kelly was on the Daytona Beach planning board for four years before being elected to the Daytona Beach city commission in 1971. Kelly was a commissioner until he was elected mayor in 1974 in a special election to fill the vacancy in that office. Kelly then served as mayor of Daytona Beachfor 12 consecutive two-year terms, from 1974 to 1993.{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/11/26/new-daytona-beach-mayor-tackles-improving-city-image/|title=New Daytona Beach Mayor Tackles Improving City Image|last=Lancaster|first=Cory Jo|date=1995-11-26|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=2013-07-30}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1987/10/22/apathy-gives-burgman-kelly-second-chance/|title=Apathy Gives Burgman, Kelly Second Chance|work=tribunedigital-orlandosentinel|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en}}
After Fort Lauderdale started discouraging college students from vacationing there for Spring Break in the mid-1980s, Kelly appeared on national television to encourage college vacationers to come to Daytona Beach for Spring Break instead.{{Cite news|url=https://washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/3/florida-spring-break-destinations-tire-of-partyers/|title=Florida spring break destinations tire of partyers' bad behavior, seek revenue elsewhere|last=Quimby|first=Tom|date=June 3, 2015|work=The Washington Times|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/fl-spring-broke-documentary-20160304-story.html|title='Spring Broke' documentary on Fort Lauderdale-Daytona rivalry to air Friday|last=Diaz|first=Johnny|work=Sun-Sentinel.com|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en-US}} Soon after, beer and cigarette brands started advertising in Daytona Beach for Spring Break. MTV Spring Break coverage moved to Daytona Beach in 1986.{{Cite news|url=http://www.papermag.com/a-history-of-mtv-spring-break-part-1-the-80s-1426028000.html|title=A History of "MTV Spring Break," Part 1: The '80s|date=2012-03-28|work=PAPER|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en}} He later called that decision a mistake as locals experienced many problems during Spring Break every year.{{Cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-07-12/news/9301230616_1_black-college-reunion-tourism-officials-spring-break-s|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726215852/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-07-12/news/9301230616_1_black-college-reunion-tourism-officials-spring-break-s|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2014|title=Daytona Beach May Kiss Spring Breakers Good-bye|work=tribunedigital-sunsentinel|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1989/06/21/daytona-debates-spring-break/|title=Daytona Debates Spring Break|work=tribunedigital-orlandosentinel|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Roeper |first1=Roger |title=Spring Orgy's Over |publisher=Chicago Sun - Times |date=21 March 1993}}{{cite news |title=Revelry Worries Daytona Beach |agency=AP |publisher=Boston Globe |date=23 December 1989}} Kelly's efforts to rein in the revelry included promoting athletic competitions called "Spring Games" to channel youthful energy in a wholesome direction,{{cite news |title=Spring Games USA competes with bacchanalian traditions for minds and bodies of college students |work=Los Angeles Times |date=25 March 1989|id={{ProQuest|1249381954}} }} and proposing that hotels be billed for the cost of sending police to respond to calls during spring break.{{cite news |title=Mayor: Bill Hotels for Police Calls Report Says $60,000 Spent for Spring Break Patrols |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |date=1 June 1989|id={{ProQuest|277532149}} }}
In 1993, Kelly lost his bid for re-election to a potential 13th term in a major upset. Kelly was defeated by restaurateur Paul Carpenella by 210 votes. Carpenella received 3,689 votes (50.3%), to win the mayoral election, while Kelly placed second, garnering 3,479 votes (47.4%). Turnout in the 1993 municipal election was just 25%. That year, Daytona Beach officials cut their Spring Break marketing budget and ties with MTV.{{Cite news|url=http://www.papermag.com/a-history-of-mtv-spring-break-part-2-the-90s-1426029465.html|title=A History of "MTV Spring Break," Part 2: The 90s|date=2012-03-29|work=PAPER|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en}}
=Personal life=
Kelly's wife, Jane, a registered nurse, died on July 31, 2015, at the age of 78.{{cite news|first=Bill |last=Schumann |title=Remembering a true Daytona ambassador |url=http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20150805/remembering-a-true-daytona-ambassador |work=The Daytona Beach News-Journal |date=2015-08-02 |access-date=2018-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612194611/http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20150805/remembering-a-true-daytona-ambassador |archive-date=2018-06-12 |url-status=live}} The couple had five children.{{cite news|title=Joan M. Kelly obituary |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/news-journalonline/obituary.aspx?n=joan-m-kelly&pid=175417062&fhid=5883 |work=The Daytona Beach News-Journal |date=2015-08-05 |access-date=2018-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612195434/http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/news-journalonline/obituary.aspx?n=joan-m-kelly&pid=175417062&fhid=5883 |archive-date=2018-06-12 |url-status=live}} One son, Chris Kelly, was elected a Volusia County court judge in 2012 with 63% of the vote.{{cite news|first=Jarleene |last=Almenas |title=Remembering a true Daytona ambassador |url=https://www.ormondbeachobserver.com/article/volusia-county-court-judge-chris-kelly-to-run-for-re-election |work=Ormond Beach Observer |date=2017-08-23 |access-date=2018-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130652/https://www.ormondbeachobserver.com/article/volusia-county-court-judge-chris-kelly-to-run-for-re-election |archive-date=2018-05-29 |url-status=live}}
References
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Category:Date of birth missing (living people)
Category:Mayors of Daytona Beach, Florida
Category:Engineers from Pennsylvania
Category:Florida city council members