William J. Kelly, 76, died Tuesday, January 20, 2004.

He was born Oct. 17, 1927, in Beaver Falls, son of the late Leon W. and Margaret M. Wyrough Kelly.

He was a founding partner of Elderkin, Martin, Kelly & Messina.  He was a former partner with the law firm of Sage Grey Todd & Simms in New York.

From 1966 to 1977, he supervised the Erie office of the U.S. Bureau of Consumer Protection and served as a special assistant to the Attorney General of Pennsylvania.  He was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and served as president of the Erie County Bar Association.

He graduated from Beaver Falls High School and received his bachelor's degree from Geneva College in 1949.  He was a 1952 graduate of Harvard University Law School.

Serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he was discharged in 1947 after two years.  He served as a recruiting liaison officer for the United States Military Academy at West Point and was a former U.S. Army Reserve officer for the Judge Advocate General Corps.  He attained the rank of colonel.

He served on the board of trustees for Villa Maria College and was also a trustee at Gannon University.  He also served as president of Erie Marriage Counseling Services, Inc.

He was a member of St. Peter Cathedral.

Bill Kelly was also involved in the following community activities:

• Past President, Erie County Bar Association, 1984, and former Chairperson of Erie County Bar Association Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee.
  
• Arbitrator and Mediator, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
  
• Adjunct Settlement Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
  
• Certified Mediator United States Arbitration and Mediation of the Northeast, Inc.
  
• Past President and Solicitor of Erie Guidance Center (Psychiatric Clinic for Children).
  
• Past President and Solicitor for Northwestern Pennsylvania Humane Society.
  
• Former Member of the Board of Directors and Solicitor for Erie Philharmonic, Inc.
  
• Former Board Member of the Erie County Commission for Criminal Rehabilitation.
  
• Member of the Sisters of Mercy Advisory Board.
  
• Member of the Erie Catholic Cemeteries Advisory Board.
  
• Trustee Emeritus of Gannon University.