Recognizing John Kelly's Birthday

Floor Speech

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Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kelly, a Queens, New York native, graduated from Notre Dame in 1956 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also earned an MBA in 1966 from St. John's University. He spent much of his career with Textron Inc., eventually rising to President of the company's Marine & Land Systems in New Orleans, after departing his role as President of Bell Aerospace Textron in Buffalo, New York.

During his time at Bell Aerospace, Mr. Kelly played a critical role in the manufacturing of the lunar ascent engine which was crucial in the Apollo 11 mission piloted by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

Mr. Kelly later joined Pan-American Life Insurance Company's Board of Directors in 1994, becoming chairman in 2004. He has been active in a multitude of organizations, including as a director of the Whitney Bank and as a founding director of the World War II Museum in New Orleans. He is also a founding member and former chairman of the Louisiana Technology Council, and additionally served on the board of directors of Rivada Networks LLC from 2005 to 2010.

Mr. Kelly is a founding member and former chairman of the Louisiana Committee of 100, and a founding member and former vice-chairman of the New Orleans Business Council--and most importantly, Mr. Kelly is my friend. I thank him for the memories we have made over the years and for his dedicated service to this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to wish John Kelly a happy 90th birthday, and I look forward to celebrating with him.

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