Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
KELLY, Francis J.
Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1648844&id=I1095
KELLY, Francis J. (Dubuque, IA, Jan. 16, 1921--Dubuque, IA, Mar. 14, 1992). Dubuque's only National Guard general. Kelly, retired after thirty-six years of military service, served in every rank from "buck" private to major general before finally retiring as Commander of Troops for the State of Iowa, Army National Guard.
A graduate of DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, Kelly attended Advanced Officers Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
In 1974 Kelly was promoted to brigadier general while an assistant division commander of the 47th Infantry Division. He was appointed commander of the Iowa Army National Guard in 1976 by Governor Robert Ray.
Locally Kelly held memberships in the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Dubuque Citizens Advisory Commission, and served as chairman of the Dubuque Rent Control Board. He was married to Charlotte Ragatz KELLY and their daughter was Barbara K. SMELTZER.
