Mr. Lee Roy Kelley Class of 1960
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Mr. Lee Roy Kelley Class of 1960 Lee Roy Kelley turned his love affair with fast cars into an impressive career in the publishing business. In 1967, with a nudge from his wife, Judy, he sought and gained an associate editor position with Popular Hot Rodding Magazine. His writing talent led to editorial positions and later, the responsibility for develop- ing and acquiring new acquisition opportunities for Petersen Publishing, a bil- lion-dollar publishing conglomerate. Petersen Publishing was sold in 1996, and Lee Roy remained with the new own- ers to help take the company public before it was sold again. He retired in 1999, then took up other publishing challenges until he retired again, for good, in 2005. During his career, Lee Roy was editor of Hot Rod Magazine, and later vice- president of Motor Trend and Sport Magazines. Throughout his career, names familiar to racing fans…Don Garlits, Andy Granatelli, Richard Petty, Jackie Stewart…were part of Lee Roy’s personal and working circle of relationships. He traveled around the world covering and sometimes participating in automo- tive races and new car introduction. “It was quite a heady experience…driving the tires off almost every high performance car in the world-from Cobras to Corvettes, Porsches to Vipers, Mini Coopers to Ferraris” he wrote in the mini- yearbook for his 50th high school reunion. “I thanked my lucky stars for the education I had received from my teachers, first in Texas and later at TUHS and Taft College. One person who shall always stand at the head of that class is Miss Bartell. Her encouragement carried me through many a rough spot, and I’ll forever cherish her kindness, wisdom, and, yes, her kick-ass attitude when needed.” 11 .