A great loss for Adams County
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Adams County and the society of Ohio professional journalists lost a great friend this week.
(Byron) Stephen Kelley died on Aug. 11 at the all-too young age of 62. Steve Kelley and I became friends during my four years as a publisher and editor at an Adams County newspaper for which we both wrote weekly columns.
We shared more than a few things in common. We both attended the University of Cincinnati. We both attended Southern State Community College. And we both wrote more than 1,000 newspaper columns over the years.
Steve was born on April 25, 1949. I recognize that date because my older sister also was born on April 25, although many, many years later!
About a dozen years ago, the Adams County Chamber of Commerce attempted to honor Steve with its highest annual award: the George Robinson Award.
I say the Chamber "attempted" to honor Steve because of two reasons: 1. It was difficult enough to get Steve to attend that year's annual banquet, which, if memory serves, was held at Mineral Springs. And, 2. Steve left shortly after dinner, and was not present to receive his due recognition.
When the prestigious award was announced, and after the standing ovation for the recipient, there was a long pause.
We all waited for Steve to walk to the podium and give his acceptance speech. Instead, Chamber board member John Stier of the Insurance Exchange in West Union, accepted on Steve's behalf.
As I recall, the Chamber wanted to keep the award a secret. Steve was "coerced" to attend the banquet, but nobody thought to "coerce" him to stick around for the awards presentations that night.
Those of us who knew him, said, "That's Steve."
John Stier, Kenny Moles, Caleb Grooms and I shared a laugh over the episode!
He was never about personal fanfare. He did what he did to make Adams County a better place and to improve its image among those less fortunate to know what a beautiful part of Ohio the county named for Ohio's second president truly is.
To this day, Stephen Kelley is the only person on the planet who has ever called me a "scholar and a gentleman."
When he did, I replied in typical fashion, that I am neither.
He disagreed, saying my personal humility aside, he stood by his description and welcomed me to the community.
I can't say just how much professional experience Steve had as a journalist, photographer and videographer, but I can say this: He was equally at ease behind the camera or in front of it.
He was, simply put, an outstanding spokesman for Adams County, be it in a local news documentary or on the Cincinnati or Columbus television stations.
I remember watching a TV news show one night and all of a sudden, there's Adams County historian Steve Kelley, standing in front of Kirker's Covered Bridge, just as natural as you please, explaining the county history for those less informed.
For Stephen Kelley to leave us at 62 years of age isn't fair.
But what may help ease this loss are all the great writings and all the wonderful memories from one of Adams County's finest.
God bless you, Steve. You made Adams County a better place and you've left a tremendous legacy and journal for future historians.
Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press and worked with Stephen Kelley from 1998-2002.[[In-content Ad]]
(Byron) Stephen Kelley died on Aug. 11 at the all-too young age of 62. Steve Kelley and I became friends during my four years as a publisher and editor at an Adams County newspaper for which we both wrote weekly columns.
We shared more than a few things in common. We both attended the University of Cincinnati. We both attended Southern State Community College. And we both wrote more than 1,000 newspaper columns over the years.
Steve was born on April 25, 1949. I recognize that date because my older sister also was born on April 25, although many, many years later!
About a dozen years ago, the Adams County Chamber of Commerce attempted to honor Steve with its highest annual award: the George Robinson Award.
I say the Chamber "attempted" to honor Steve because of two reasons: 1. It was difficult enough to get Steve to attend that year's annual banquet, which, if memory serves, was held at Mineral Springs. And, 2. Steve left shortly after dinner, and was not present to receive his due recognition.
When the prestigious award was announced, and after the standing ovation for the recipient, there was a long pause.
We all waited for Steve to walk to the podium and give his acceptance speech. Instead, Chamber board member John Stier of the Insurance Exchange in West Union, accepted on Steve's behalf.
As I recall, the Chamber wanted to keep the award a secret. Steve was "coerced" to attend the banquet, but nobody thought to "coerce" him to stick around for the awards presentations that night.
Those of us who knew him, said, "That's Steve."
John Stier, Kenny Moles, Caleb Grooms and I shared a laugh over the episode!
He was never about personal fanfare. He did what he did to make Adams County a better place and to improve its image among those less fortunate to know what a beautiful part of Ohio the county named for Ohio's second president truly is.
To this day, Stephen Kelley is the only person on the planet who has ever called me a "scholar and a gentleman."
When he did, I replied in typical fashion, that I am neither.
He disagreed, saying my personal humility aside, he stood by his description and welcomed me to the community.
I can't say just how much professional experience Steve had as a journalist, photographer and videographer, but I can say this: He was equally at ease behind the camera or in front of it.
He was, simply put, an outstanding spokesman for Adams County, be it in a local news documentary or on the Cincinnati or Columbus television stations.
I remember watching a TV news show one night and all of a sudden, there's Adams County historian Steve Kelley, standing in front of Kirker's Covered Bridge, just as natural as you please, explaining the county history for those less informed.
For Stephen Kelley to leave us at 62 years of age isn't fair.
But what may help ease this loss are all the great writings and all the wonderful memories from one of Adams County's finest.
God bless you, Steve. You made Adams County a better place and you've left a tremendous legacy and journal for future historians.
Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press and worked with Stephen Kelley from 1998-2002.[[In-content Ad]]