HONOREE

Joe Kelly

Joe Kelly Field

Joe Kelly was an inspirational teacher, coach and sportsman at Pierce College between 1966 and 1982.

His love of sports began at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, where he played three years of football and baseball before his graduation in 1943.

After graduation, Kelly joined the U.S. Army Paratroopers and trained at Fort Benning. He was assigned to the 517th Combat Team which participated in Italy, France, and Belgium. He landed in Europe on D-Day and participated in many battles, including the Battle of the Bulge.

After his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1945, Kelly entered the University of Southern California, where he played football for four years. He graduated in 1950 and landed his first job at Emerson Junior High School in Pomona.

He continued his teaching and coaching career, moving over to Eagle Rock High School in 1952. There he coached football and baseball for twelve years, winning many Northern League titles.

Kelly was totally dedicated to his favorite sports, football and baseball. He showed such leadership that he was selected to coach the Breightbardt All-Star Football Game in 1963 and the Shrine All-Star Game in 1964. In 1965, he was elected president of the Los Angeles City Coaches Association.

He came to Pierce College in 1966, where he coached football and baseball. He was still coaching baseball when he became ill with cancer. He passed away in 1982 at the age of 58.

The baseball field at Pierce College is named Joe Kelly Field to honor his excellence as a teacher, coach and human being. Often called simply Kelly Field, it is located off the Winnetka entrance to the north. A bronze plaque stands behind the fence near home plate.