Don Kelly was born September 22, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Illinois and attended college for his undergraduate degree at The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the university in 1962. Kelly then joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. After serving as an officer for three years, Kelly attended the University of Kansas and received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 1967. He also studied Urban Studies at The University of Texas and Texas Christian University.
After completing his thorough education, Kelly began serving the public by becoming Assistant City Manager of Victoria, Texas, as well as serving as director of regional services. In 1970, Kelly landed the job as the first Executive Director of South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) where he united the southeastern region of Texas.
While working this job, he also was either president or on the board of over 40 different civic and social organizations. He was appointed staff of the first North Texas Council of Governments and was the only member who attended all 34 meetings. Kelly also served as Chairman of the Beaumont Mayor’s Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities for 15 years, was the founding member of the Triangle AIDS Network, was on the board of the Mental Health Association for 26 years, and served as president of the Southeast Texas Arts Council and the Texas Association of Arts Council. Being a huge, diehard baseball fan, he even had the opportunity to co-host a sports trivia radio program for 17 years alongside Dave Hofferth. Kelly also had the honor of serving as the Olympic Torchbearer for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
After serving the public for over 36 years, Don Kelly retired from SETRPC in 2000. Upon retirement, Kelly traveled around the world and settled down in Houston, Texas where he began to create and donate a variety of different collections. He donated and started the Don Kelly Research Collection of Gay Literature and Culture and Fellowship at Texas A&M University which consists of many rare books and materials. Kelly still donates and adds to the collection today.