Alumnus of the Year
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 2:44pm | 
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Dick Kelly Named Distinguished Alumnus
Peoria, September 14, 2011: Peoria Notre Dame High School announced during Homecoming festivities today that the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Distinguished Alumnus for 2011 is Dick Kelly.
The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to those alumni who stand out because of their exceptional service and dedication to the principles and values of Peoria Notre Dame. This is the twentieth time Peoria Notre Dame High School has had the honor of presenting The Distinguished Alumni Award.
Previously named as Distinguished Alums are:
- Rev Msgr. Robert Livingston, SI ‘37
- Mr. Timothy Mounts, SI ‘56
- Mr. James Heid, SI ‘54
- Mr. Robert Lehnhausen, SI ‘37
- Mrs. Judith Hanley Carman, AOL ‘57
- Dr. John Carroll, SI ‘71
- Brigadier General Frank Rezak, SI ‘62
- U. S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, SI ‘63
- Dr. George Best, SI ‘34
- Dr. Harrison C. Putman III, BHS ‘67
- Mr. L. David DeTrempe, SI ‘41
- Mr. Timothy J. Cassidy, BHS ‘73
- Mr. James A. Maloof, SI ‘37
- Mr. Richard and Mrs. Barbara Hammond, SI ’54, AOL ‘54
- Sister Phyllis McMurray, OSB, AOL ‘61
- Mr. Hylee Kemp, SI ‘55
- Mrs. Margery Wagner, AOL ‘53
- Mr. Jim Carlson, BHS ‘73
Dick Kelly Graduated from Spalding institute in 1972. An alum of Eastern Illinois University, he has taught in Peoria Catholic High Schools since 1973.
In introducing Dick Kelly from the podium at the Peoria Notre Dame Homecoming Mass and convocation, Jerry McGann suggested that respondents to questions about Dick Kelly had reported three principal characteristics:
- "Do small things with great love."
- "Spread love wherever you go; let no one come to you without being happier."
- "A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others."
A lifelong resident of Peoria, Dick Kelly was a St. Marks Marksman. Among his earliest childhood memories are of his father teaching and coaching at Spalding Institute. Graduating as Class President from Spalding Institute in 1939, Dick's father had played football at The University of Notre Dame.
Introducing his sisters, Maureen and Kate, to Homecoming Convocation guests, Dick explained that his father had been his strongest influence.
"I always wanted to teach and coach," explains Dick Kelly. "That's what my father did."
Recalling his own long experience, Dick Kelly explained how proud he is of the Current Peoria Notre Dame football team. Two weeks ago, they played six quarters to defeat Peoria High School in double overtime. Last Saturday, they came from twelve points behind with less than four minutes to play to defeat the I.V.C Gray Ghosts by one point. With the reminder that Peoria Notre Dame has not been in the football playoffs since 2001, Dick Kelly ended his remarks with the admonition to "Go Irish."
