- Date Of Birth: March 2, 2012
- Date Of Death: August 2, 2012
- State: Texas
Mr. Kelly passed away at his home in Belton on Thursday, August 2, 2012. He was born on March 2, 1932 in Dallas, Texas to Herman H. Boyle and Leoma Fowler Boyle. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, and was a Fine Arts/Drama major at San Antonio College.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 during the Korean Conflict, stationed in places including Okinawa as Airplane Crew Chief, flying regularly to Hong Kong, Japan, and Formosa. Following his honorable discharge from the military, Mr. Kelly began a 50-year career in radio broadcasting. While working at KTSA, atop-rated Rock & Roll station, he was the first broadcaster to break the news to the greater South Texas area that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.
He later moved to Austin as a Program Director, where he enjoyed number-one in the ratings at KNOW radio. Here he also emceed shows for performers including such artists as The Beach Boys, Conway Twitty, Buck Owens, and Merle Haggard. During this time he met his wife, the former Zona Preece of Belton. The couple celebrated their 46-year anniversary in July of this year. Mr. Kelly also worked at the 50,000 watt KOMA in Oklahoma City and the top country format KENR in Houston. Locally Chuck is best remembered for his morning show at Belton’s former station KTON, and KOOV in Copperas Cove.
In addition, he was the play-by-play and color announcer, along with Joe Lombardi, for football games for the Belton Tigers, then later for both football and basketball games for the Copperas Cove Bulldogs and Lampasas Badgers. He was also a licensed realtor, and million-dollar agent with Century 21 in Copperas Cove and Killeen. He also taught Telecommunications classes at the former Central Texas College in Killeen. Mr. Kelly and family moved to Lometa, Texas in 1988. After retiring from radio broadcasting, he worked as Sports Editor for the Lampasas Dispatch Record. He also co-owned family restaurant in Lometa. After his and Zona’s relocation to Belton in 2006, Mr. Kelly had been Sports Editor for the Belton Journal up until his death.
Mr. Kelly served as Mayor for the City of Lometa for three terms; Lometa City Councilman for twoterms. He was past director for the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce, CentralTexas Council of Governments, Temple-Fort Hood Area Communities in Schools,Sprint-Centel Regional Citizens Advisory Committee, Director for LampasasCounty Chamber of Commerce, member of the Lometa Lions, and the AmericanLegion.
He was president of the Belton Baseball Associationduring the late 1970’s and coached winning Little League teams for severalyears. Mr. Kelly was a member of the Pentecostal Church of JesusChrist in Belton. Survivors include his wife, Zona; one son Charles H.(Chuck) Kelly and wife Melissa of Bedford; six daughters: Janna Tompson ofCanada; Debora Kelly Emery of New York; Christianne Boyle of San Antonio; MonaKelly Fitch of Waco; Dina Murphy and husband Pat of Rockport; Candice KellyHyman and husband Aaron of Belton; twelve grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren.
