Katherine Kelly Honored By Congressman and Democratic Women’s Club

For Immediate Release:  June 9, 2008

Contact: Palm Beach County Democratic Party

Lantana, FL - U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings proclaimed Sunday June 8, 2008, as Katherine Kelly Day in the 23rd Congressional District of Florida.
 
The congressional proclamation honoring Mrs. Kelly, long-time Palm Beach County Democratic State Committeewoman, was given to her at a luncheon held in her honor in Atlantis by the Democratic Women's Club of Palm Beach County.
 
Congressman Hastings, in a surprise appearance, personally read the proclamation that recognized her efforts for Democrats, women's rights, and organized labor since arriving in Palm Beach County in 1958.
 
The proclamation concluded:
 
"Whereas Katherine Kelly is loved and respected by all who have benefited directly from her compassion, concern and determination and has earned the gratitude of everyone who has benefited indirectly from her work, therefore I proclaim Sunday June 8, 2008, Katherine Kelly Day in the 23rd Congressional District of Florida."  (Note:  See full text below.)
A Florida State Committeewoman since 1985, Mrs. Kelly has served as a delegate to five Democratic National Conventions and sits on the national board of Americans for Democratic Action, as well as the board of the NAACP.

Originally from South Orange, New Jersey, Katherine graduated from Wellesley College and started her career as an electronics manufacturer. She is a founding member of the Society of Women Engineers and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (and also is a founding member of the International Women's Fishing Association) She moved into party politics when she moved to Florida and married Edward Kelly, who before his death in 1993, was chair of the Democratic Party in Palm Beach County.

Katherine joined the Palm Beach County DEC in 1975 and at various times has chaired the Membership, Campaigns & Nominations, Affirmative Action, and Legislative Committees. On March 3, 2001 Katherine was honored as the Susan B. Anthony Outstanding Feminist of the Year by the area NOW chapter.

Many elected officials, candidates and Democratic activists in attendance at the luncheon paid tribute to Mrs. Kelly, including State Reps. Mary Brandenburg, Susan Bucher, Kelly Skidmore and Richard Machek, as well as Supervisor of Elections Arthur Anderson, Clerk and Comptroller Sharon R. Bock and Palm Beach County School Board Chair Bill Graham.

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Photo:  
From L:  Honoree PBC State Committeewoman Katherine Kelly;  Congressional Aide Dan Liftman;  Congressman Alcee Hastings (FL-23)

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CONGRESSIONAL PROCLAMATION
June 8, 2008

WHEREAS Katherine Kelly has been a proud and active Democrat all her life, continually fighting for the primacy of our party, and
WHEREAS Katherine Kelly has been a member of the Democratic Executive Committee of Palm Beach County for more than 30 years, rising to become Palm Beach County's Democratic State Committeewoman, a position she still holds, and

WHEREAS Katherine Kelly and her late husband, Edward Kelly, helped to build the Democratic Executive Committee of Palm Beach County and bring it to the position of prominence it holds today, and

WHEREAS Katherine Kelly is an original member of the Democratic Women's Club of Palm Beach County and of the county's first chapter of the National Organization for Women and has fought hard all her life to advance the rights of women, and

WHEREAS Katherine Kelly has been in the forefront of every movement that would expand the rights of minorities and underprivileged citizens, and

WHEREAS Katherine Kelly has been an ardent supporter of organized labor and the rights of working men and women everywhere, and

WHEREAS Katherine Kelly's efforts in all these areas have resulted in the election of many Democratic officials at all levels of government and better lives for the people she has fought for, and

WHEREAS Katherine Kelly is loved and respected by all who have benefited directly from her compassion, concern and determination and has earned the gratitude of everyone who has benefited indirectly from her work,

THEREFORE, I proclaim Sunday, June 8, 2008 Katherine Kelly Day in the 23rd Congressional District of Florida.

Sincerely,

Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress