Richard Kelly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Gunter |
| Succeeded by | Bill McCollum |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1924-07-31)July 31, 1924 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | August 22, 2005(2005-08-22) (aged 81) Stevensville, Montana, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Unknown Loraine Judy Claire |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Northern Colorado (BA) Vanderbilt University University of Florida (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Richard Kelly (July 31, 1924 – August 22, 2005) was an American politician fromFlorida. As aRepublican congressman, he was convicted of taking bribes in the 1980Abscam scandal.
Kelly was born July 31, 1924, inAtlanta, Georgia, and his mother abandoned him in an orphanage at an early age. He attended a one-room school inCrystal Springs, Florida.[1] He served in theUnited States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946, attendedColorado State College of Education andVanderbilt College of Law, and graduated from theUniversity of Florida College of Law in Florida with aJuris Doctor in 1952.[2]
While in Colorado, he married for the first of five times.[1] He was admitted to the Florida bar the same year and practiced inZephyrhills. In 1953, he became city attorney of Zephyrhills and worked from 1956 to 1959 as senior assistant to theUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Kelly was appointed circuit judge of thesixth judicial circuit of Florida and served from 1960 to 1974, when he was elected to theUnited States House of Representatives as aRepublican.[2] While serving as a state judge, Kelly twice survivedimpeachment efforts to remove him.[3] This included the passage of an impeachment in the State House in 1963, with him being acquitted in hisimpeachment trial of the charges detailed in thearticles of impeachment.[4]
Troubled by accusations of insanity in the 1970s, Kelly allowed himself to be examined by doctors, who declared him sane, allowing him to boast that he was "the only Congressman officially certified as not cuckoo."[5]
He served three terms in the House of Representatives, starting in 1975. He opposedFood Stamps, aid tothe failingChrysler Corporation and financially troubledNew York City.[1] He attributedNew York City fiscal crisis to the pay for police and firefighters and aid to poor people: "The unions have forced industry out of the city. The uniformed services are the highest-paid in the U.S. of A. And welfare? City politicians keep jacking up the rates to get the ghetto vote. No doubt about it."[6]
In 1980, Kelly was involved in the FBI undercoverAbscam scandal and failed to win renomination, losing to RepublicanBill McCollum.
Kelly was the only Republican member of the House to vote against the expulsion of fellow Abscam targetMichael Myers (D-PA). Myers was expelled by a 376-30 vote on October 2, 1980, the House's first expulsion since 1861.
Kelly was convicted of taking $25,000 in bribes.[7] He claimed he had conducted his own undercover operation and spent part of the money to maintain that cover, but was convicted and served thirteen months of a 6 to 18 month sentence at the federal prison camp at Eglin Air Force Base. During his third term, he also divorced his wife and married his secretary.[5] He was released from a halfway house in 1986.[7][8][9]
Kelly died August 22, 2005, inStevensville, Montana after suffering for years withPick's disease.[10]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's 5th congressional district 1975–1981 | Succeeded by |
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromKELLY, Richard.Federal government of the United States. Retrieved2009-05-09.
