{{Short description|American politician (1920–2005)}} {{use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ralph Kelly | office = Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 35th district | term_start = January 3, 1973 | term_end = January 7, 1981 | predecessor = Don Elrod | successor = Howard Peterson | birth_date = {{birth date|1920|12|6}} | birth_place = Grand Island, Nebraska | death_date = {{death date and age|2005|12|25|1920|12|6}} | death_place = Lincoln, Nebraska | education = University of Nebraska–Lincoln<br>Utah State College | party = Republican | spouse = {{marriage|Patricia Stone|1941}} | children = 3 (Michael, Erin, Michele) | occupation = Businessman }}
'''Ralph Kelly''' (December 6, 1920{{spaced ndash}}December 25, 2005) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 35th district from 1973 to 1981.
==Early life== Kelly was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, in 1920.<ref name="blue book">{{cite book|title=Nebraska Blue Book 1978-1979|publisher=Nebraska Legislative Council|date=1979|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/l3000/D001-197879.pdf|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> He graduated from Grand Island Senior High School and later attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Utah State College.<ref name="blue book"/> Kelly served in World War II as a member of the United States Army Air Corps.<ref name="blue book"/> Upon returning, he worked in Grand Island, and worked for the Kelly Supply Company, his family's plumbing supply business, with his brother.<ref name="third term">{{cite news|last=Wolgamott|first=L. Kent|title=Kelly won't seek 3rd term|newspaper=Grand Island Independent|date=February 20, 1980|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/195445913/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref><ref name="public servant">{{cite news|last=Pore|first=Robert|title=Islanders remember 'true public servant'|newspaper=Grand Island Independent|date=December 28, 2005|location=|page=1-B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/194054893/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref>
==Nebraska Legislature== In 1972, State Senator Don Elrod ran for re-election in the 35th district, which was based in Hall County.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Elrod Is Seeking Re-Election|newspaper=Grand Island Independent|date=January 19, 1972|location=|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/195445173/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> Kelly, along with former County Supervisor George Clayton, ran against Elrod.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ralph Kelly Seeks Seat In Unicam|newspaper=Grand Island Independent|date=March 8, 1972|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/195445221/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> Elrod narrowly placed first in the nonpartisan primary, winning 38 percent of the vote to Kelly's 37 percent and Elrod's 25 percent.<ref name="1972 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 9, 1972, General Election, November 7, 1972|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1972|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1972prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> They advanced to the general election, where Kelly ultimately defeated Elrod, winning 55–45 percent.<ref name="1972 results"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Martin Holds One-Vote Lead; Elrod Is Defeated|newspaper=Grand Island Independent|date=November 8, 1972|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/195445464/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref>
Kelly ran for re-election in 1976,<ref>{{cite news|title=Kelly Plans Campaign|newspaper=Grand Island Independent|date=February 14, 1976|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/195445693/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> and was challenged by former Hall County Register of Deeds Rose Ann Jacobsen.<ref>{{cite news|title=Filing Deadline Approaches For Public Offices in Area|newspaper=Grand Island Independent|date=February 27, 1976|location=|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/195445720/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> In the primary, Kelly placed first by a wide margin, receiving 72 percent of the vote to Jacobsen's 28 percent.<ref name="1976 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 11, 1976, General Election, November 2, 1976|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1976|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1976prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> In the general election, Kelly won re-election in a landslide, winning 73 percent of the vote.<ref name="1976 results"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Seven Outstate Freshmen Are Headed for Legislature|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 3, 1976|location=|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/194402492/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref>
In 1980, Kelly announced that he would not seek re-election to a third term, noting that he wanted "to move onto other activities."<ref name="third term"/>
==Death== Kelly died on December 25, 2005.<ref name="public servant"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Ralph}} Category:1920 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Nebraska state senators Category:People from Grand Island, Nebraska Category:People from Lincoln, Nebraska Category:University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni Category:Utah State University alumni Category:Nebraska Republicans Category:American businesspeople Category:21st-century Nebraska politicians Category:20th-century members of the Nebraska Legislature