Paul Kelly

1939 - 2017

Paul Lance Kelly
1939-2017
Paul Lance Kelly passed away peacefully on December 16, in Houston, Texas. Surviving Paul are his devoted wife of fifty years, Grace Doyle Kelly and their two children: Paul Lance Kelly, Jr. and his wife, Laura of Burlingame, California; Mari Kelly Josey and her husband Robert, of Austin, Texas. He was the proud grandfather of four grandchildren: Taylor Elizabeth Josey, Lila Claire Josey, Travis Andrew Josey, and Paul Lance Kelly III. Paul was also survived his four siblings: Sheila Palandjian of Belmont, Massachusetts; Carol Khozozian of Watertown, Massachusetts; Sean Kelly of Nahant, Massachusetts; Lawrence Kelly of Portland, Oregon, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Paul was born in Salem, Massachusetts on May 7, 1939, son of Lawrence Kelly and Edith Rioux. He graduated from Phillips Academy Andover in 1958, Yale University in 1962, and Yale Law School in 1965. Paul was lured to Texas with an offer from Fulbright & Jaworski in 1965, where he began his early career in corporate and securities law. Paul quickly adapted to life in the Lone Star State, becoming a proud Houstonian intrigued with oil and gas. He held various positions within Zapata Corporation from 1969 to 1982, then continued on to enjoy a lengthy career as Senior Vice President of Rowan Companies, Inc. There he managed special projects and government and industry affairs. Paul spent two of those years in London managing Rowan's drilling operation in the North Sea.
Throughout his career, Paul became an international expert on energy and ocean policy. He was a Senior Editorial Advisor for World Oil and appeared in numerous congressional and federal hearings dealing with offshore oil and gas issues. In 2001, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, headed by Admiral James Watkins. Paul was charged with examining major issues affecting America's coasts and oceans and producing a comprehensive national ocean policy to be presented to the Secretary of Interior. He was also President of the Gulf of Mexico Foundation, dedicated to bringing the environmental conservation community, the private sector, and government agencies together on environmental sustainability issues in the Gulf. In 2015, Paul received a Harte's Heroes Award from Texas A&M's Harte Research Institute, honoring his leadership and his passion for protecting and preserving the beauty and health of the Gulf of Mexico.
Paul really loved nature, always admiring the beauty in all that God created. He was green-thumbed, always piddling in the yard, and loved to birdwatch. He also enjoyed spending time on his farm in Cat Spring. Paul was an outdoorsman, enjoying many weekends duck hunting with his family and friends at his lease in Garwood, Texas. He never missed an opportunity to travel to Scotland for a pheasant shoot.
Most recently, Paul enjoyed his friends at Tuesday Breakfast Club at River Oaks Country Club.
The family would like express their warm appreciation to David J. Beck, Jr., Daniel Patrick Connally, and Benjamin Cullen Connally for their unwavering love and support of Paul. They also extend much gratitude to home caregivers Eduardo Garcia, Robert Omwoma, and Anne Marie Decas for their amazing care and compassionate spirit. Appreciation also goes to Dr. Raymond Stainback, Dr. John Volpi and Dr. Gustavo Roman for their devoted and professional care of Paul.
A private burial service was held at Glenwood Cemetery on Thursday, December 21.
In lieu of customary remembrances, please consider directing memorial contributions to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center in support of Dr. Gustavo Roman's research at Houston Methodist Hospital, NantzFriends.org, or P.O. Box 4384, Houston, TX 77210-4384.