HONORING VETERAN — The Fort Steuben Chapter of DAR met for its November meeting, naming Bob Kelley the chapter’s Veteran of the Month. Kelley presented Shana Wydra and Karen Blanc with a pin, as wives of living veterans. Taking part in the ceremony were, from left, Wydra, Blanc, Regent Janet Rymer and Kelley. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Daughters of the American Revolution Fort Steuben Chapter honored local veteran Bob Kelley as its Veteran of the Month for November.

During the meeting, Kelley presented pins to Shana Wydra and Karen Blanc, wives of living veterans, as well as a pin for Mary Ann Jesse, the widow of a Vietnam veteran.

He was born and raised in Weirton, having attended the Dunbar School, Cove Junior High School and Weir High School, where he graduated in 1961.

During his school years, Kelley was a notable athlete in multiple sports, including becoming a member of the first Pony League team in Weirton and a member of the West Virginia baseball championship team in 1957.

He played high school football, basketball and ran track. He was the first Weir High and OVAC athlete to win the Kennedy Award for football.

HONORING VETERAN –– Kelley was introduced to the chapter by Susan Welch, chairman of the DAR Service for Veterans Committee. -- Contributed

He was the first OVAC high school athlete to run the 100 yard dash in less than 10 seconds in track, and was the first African American to do so in the state of West Virginia.

Kelley entered Cameron Junior College in 1961 on a football scholarship. During that year, Cameron had an undefeated season and played in the Junior College Rose Bowl where they defeated Bakersfield College.

He would become first team All-American, continuing his education at Oklahoma State University and the University of Colorado.

In 1964, he joined the Air Force as an administration specialist, having been stationed at Lackland Air Force base in Texas, Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas, Okinawa Air Force Base in Japan and Steward Air Force Base in New York.

After being honorably discharged, Sgt. Kelley worked at Stanford University as a computer operations manager and in the atomic energy research department.

He then worked for Dialog Information Servies as a database and computer operation manager, retiring after 40 years of employment.

Today, Kelley works on multiple projects, including having performed a presentation at the Weirton Area Museum honoring the 50-year anniversary for Vietnam veterans.

Kelley volunteers at the museum, and this month, honored veterans as part of Veterans Month.

He has been recognized for the following achievements throughout the decades: The West Virginia Scholastic Football Player of the Year award, 1960; Cameron Junior College All-American, 1961; Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, 2007; West Virginia All Black Hall of Fame, 2009; West Virginia All Black Hall of Fame Legend, 2010; Cameron University Hall of Fame, 2011; Weirton Hall of Fame, 2011; and West Virginia History Hero, 2018.