Remembering Carroll Kelly – Deacon 008

Carroll Kelly (008) was one of the Founding Members of the Deacons of Deadwood. He was a prominent lawyer and businessman in Houston for decades. Carroll was born and raised in Freer, Texas. He played basketball for the University of Texas and later attended the UT Law School. He was the biggest UT sports fan on the planet and would watch UT football at the Deacons Charity Ball.

Carroll knew everybody, and if he met you and he didn’t know you, he would get to know you immediately.  He played golf regularly with Darrell Royal and Willie Nelson, among others.

He was a life-long Democrat and was strongly influenced by John F. Kennedy, who he met when he was young. He was active in local politics and knew every politician in Texas worth knowing over the course of many decades.

Carroll was one of the most opinionated Members of the Deacons. He may have been right or wrong on any particular matter, but he was never in doubt.  Many viewed him as the conscious of the Club.

Carroll also was a tough SOB.  When he found he was ill, a friend of his went along on a doctor’s visit. The doctor told the friend in confidence that Carroll had terminal cancer and that he had just given Carroll that news.  When Carroll came out of the doctor’s office all he said to his friend was “Where are we playing golf today.”

The day Carroll died he played golf in the morning and passed away on the way to see his grandson play little league football. He lived his life the way he wanted to live it until the minute we lost him.