On the night of July 11, 2019, Wally Christopher Kelly, 62, passed away at his home in Phoenix, Arizona. He was reunited with his father, Wally; his mother, Crissy; brother Michael; grandparents, and many, many dear friends into the arms of our Lord. He will forever be dearly missed by his son, Beau, his stepchildren Hannah, Ashley, and Parker, his wife Amy, sisters Jennifer (Bill) Ingram of Twin Falls, Idaho; Diane Steinmetz of Boise, Idaho, many nieces and nephews, and dear friends and colleagues.

Wally was born in Pocatello, Idaho to Wally and Crissy Kelly on August 4, 1956. He was baptized into the Catholic Church and would remain a dutiful servant of our Lord for his entire life. He attended Highland High School in Pocatello, Idaho, where he upheld the family legacy of athletes and was recognized as an outstanding athlete as a 3-year letterman with two state championships. Wally's love of football earned him a scholarship to Idaho State University in 1974, where he would earn his Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and Physical Education. Eventually he would attend the University of Utah and obtain a Master's of Science Degree in Physical and Special Education.

A Spring Break vacation to Tucson, Arizona would prove to be the beginning of a lifelong career in the billboard advertising business. Wally served as a national sales manager for Whiteco MetroCom, Inc. from 1979 to 1984, which was based in Chicago, Illinois. Whiteco had outdoor billboards in 34 states, including such markets as Chicago, Dallas, Orlando, Fla., Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Providence, R.I. His years in Chicago created a lifelong love for his Chicago Bears football.

In 1984, Wally and colleague Arte Moreno were recognized by local entrepreneur Bill Levin, who offered them to collaborate to develop local sales campaigns. This dynamic duo would impact the outdoor advertising business and lead to the development of a media empire. This union established Outdoor Systems, which became the #1 company within its industry. Their outdoor system had a presence in 96 of the top 100 US advertising markets. Wally held the position of Executive Vice President of Sales for Outdoor Systems, which employed over 1600 employees for 5 years. In 2001, the company was sold publicly and became Viacom Outdoor, through the merging of Infinity Outdoor, a national billboard company, and TDI, a national transit advertising company. The combination of the companies created the largest outdoor advertising company in North America. In 2003 he was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the US, Canadian Mexican, and European markets. In January 2006 Viacom would be publicly traded and renamed a CBS Corporation, CBS Outdoor, with Wally holding the position as CEO. CBS Outdoor would become a billion-dollar company. In 2013 CBS would be publicly traded once more and be renamed Outfront Media, where Wally would serve as Vice President and consultant for a short while. His enormous expertise in media and advertising allowed him to begin anew with Superior Digital Displays located in New York City, where he served as CEO. Consecutively from 2014 to 2017 he acted as CEO for the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission preparing and directing financial or regulatory reports required by laws, regulations, and boards of directors. Wally Christopher Kelly would prove to be one of the nation's greatest influencers in the Outdoor Advertising Industry. He was a three-term chairman and Geopath (Traffic Audit Bureau), as well as Hall of Fame Inductee of the Outdoor Advertising Association of American (OAAA) receiving the Myles Standish Award in 2007, the highest recognition award within the industry.

At the time of his death, Wally was consulting for many reputable media companies throughout the US. He developed successful restaurants within Arizona and was a pioneer in developing the entertainment district of Old Town Scottdale, Arizona.

Not only a businessman, Wally was first and foremost a family man. In 1998 Wally welcomed his son, Beau William. In 2004 Wally married Amy and her three children Hannah, Ashley, and Parker would create a beautiful family together. His love of sports reflected through his children and he was directly responsible for his son Beau and Parker's success. His proudest accomplishment was watching Beau play football for Portland State University, as both Beau and Parker achieved national recognition for their athletic abilities as a result of his direction. He was especially influential in supporting the equestrian career of his daughter Ashley.

Wally's love of sports was a constant in his business career as he served as a Director on the Boards of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Fiesta Bowl, and Arizona State University. Wally generously supported the Idaho State University football program and the Kelly Family Fifth Year Scholarship Program. He endowed football scholarships honoring his late brother, Michael, and father, Wally, which awarded him the President's Medallion of Recognition. In honor of his late brother, Michael, he brilliantly created a golf tournament, the Mike Kelly Memorial, with the sole purpose of donating their proceeds to support football programs within their local community. In 2004 Wally was awarded the honor of the Distinguished Arizonan Award. Wally was a 'LifeBird' serving the Phoenix Thunderbirds and created a special day honoring the Special Olympic Athletes during the Waste Management events. Youth sports were dear to his heart as he coached numerous young athletes in basketball, football, and baseball.

We will celebrate the remarkable life of #13 on Friday, July 19, 2019 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona. A Rosary will begin at 9:00 A.M., followed by a Funeral Mass in his honor at 10:00 A.M. A reception will follow. We will miss him every minute of every day for the rest of our lives. He was larger than life. He was "Our Superman".

Donations may be made in Wally C. Kelly's honor to Special Olympics Arizona, 5601 W. Mohave Street, Suite C, Phoenix, Arizona 85043.

Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Idaho State Journal on Jul. 17, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Wally Kelly

Sponsored by Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home.

13 Entries

A Friend.....

August 4, 2024

Happy Birthday Love~ I still "CANNOT" believe you are gone..... I am truly STILL at a loss for words... The Sun rise and set with you...........

Jay HImelstein

July 22, 2019

Wally was a capable, intelligent, capable and great guy. My prayers are wish his Family.
RIP

John Badolato

Sent Flowers

July 18, 2019

Thinking of Wally yesterday, I remembered another memorable period of years in our history. I would like to add this to my previous comments.

His grandfather taught us to fly fish in Ketchum, outside Sun Valley. Early morning wake-ups, walking miles in hip boots, always caught a mess of fish. Go every summer.

Always competing. Who got first fish of the day? Biggest? Who caught the most? Who fell more slippin' on rocks? (LOL) We both lost a lot of flies trying to drop our lines into a sneaky little fish hideout. Wally would cuss more than me. Always won that one. His dad was a Jarhead.

We would sing I Can See Clearly Now, by Johnny Nash, at the top of our lungs sitting on the back of the tail gate of the old, beat-up pickup to pass the time on the long, dusty ride back to the cabin.

I am certain Wally Can See Clearly Now. If Guest Book allows, I leave a link to a rendition we loved. Listen and think of youngsters Wally and Scott singing to God in the beautiful mountains surrounding Ketchum, Idaho. We loved that place. I'm sure he'll stop by to fish on occasion now.

https://youtu.be/FscIgtDJFXg

Sharron Nicklas

July 18, 2019

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

Henry Walton

Sent Flowers

Scott Goold (42), Chris Frost (34), Mike Falash (22) and Wally Kelly (10) The Squad Coaches Ron Kress (L) and Jim Koetter

Scott Goold

July 17, 2019

Wally and I grew up together as neighbors and BEST friends. We shared millions of memories. Our love of sport united us throughout our childhood, junior high, high school and years at Idaho State University.

We spent countless hours in his backyard playing versions of kid's baseball. We spent more on my driveway playing basketball. His front yard was for football. We played sandlot baseball across the street at Greenacres; organized baseball, Mustang, Bronco and Pony, at city fields. Both of us were always all-stars. We rode bicycles around the city together. We played "ditch-em" throughout our neighborhood.

We played a great deal of "White Rabbit" in the dark of night until nearly getting pinched by a homeowner and ending up in stickery bushes. White Rabbit is played wearing only sneakers, ringing a door bell, and seeing who will remain at the door the longest. We were boyishly competitive at everything!

Our last adventure nearly ended tragically. As we pushed the door bell, apparently the owner was right here -- door opened immediately. We had chosen a fenced home for greater challenge. Our only option was right or left into junipers. We laughed all night as we picked stickers from all parts of our scratched, cut and bruised bodies.

We designed a miniature half court in Wally's garage for one-on-one basketball. His dad gave us a U-shaped railroad bolt that served as the hoop. We attached a net from a desk office mini-basket set. We played for hours and hours and hours using a tennis ball. We would be Jerry West, Clyde Frasier or Earl the Pearl.

We would argue endlessly over rules and claims of cheating. We would share a cold Coke in a bottle from his grandfather's machine and laugh about our battles.

We attempted our hands at music. Had a guitar and small drum set in his basement. Did our best to play latest Beatles hits of the late 60s. "She loves me, yeah, yeah, yeah ..." We drank Merry Cherry Fruit Punch as our adult beverage. Notice neither of us ever published that on our resumes.

I guess our greatest joy was sleeping out, which we did regularly on hot summer nights. Our older homes didn't have AC. Both of us had basement bedrooms, but it was still hot and stuffy indoors. We slept under the stars most summer evenings.

Need to qualify "sleeping." We pretended usually to sleep. As soon as the lights in our parent's room went out, we were off. We roamed streets as only small town boys have the privilege to do. We were very military. Always on point.

We grew up during the Vietnam war. Might be drafted. Boys never knew. We trained how to hide as Special Force Rangers. Prided ourselves on our stealth and recon tactics. Wally Sr served in WWII. Earned a Purple Heart as a Marine in the Pacific theater -- having his toes shot off in battle on Okinawa.

Wally Sr always raised bulldogs in honor of the Corp. Wally and I grew up with Sarge. He loved to swing hanging by his mouth from a deflated football tied by a rope to a tree in the Kelly backyard. Kids would walk by and kick the fence to irritate Sarge. We would run them down, hang them over the fence, and scare them pretending Sarge was going to bite them.

Sarge was quite friendly. But they always walked on the other side of the street after their "near death" experience.

As juvenile delinquents, we jumped fences to "steal" green apples from trees. We would eat as many as we could and throw the rest at other friends who also were sleeping out. People like Mike and Mark Falash. The Alston's, Bell boys and others. We would carry dozens of small, green apples in a made-up pouch using the front of our t-shirt.

I still harbor much guilt from those adventures. Nobody really cared about apples. There were always too many. Yet we also raided gardens. We loved young carrots. We would wipe out a growing crop. Pull them from someone's garden, turn on their hose to wash them, and eat carrots the rest of the night. Our parents wondered why we were never hungry in the morning.

To all those homeowners, I apologize. Realize today how much work goes into a garden. We must have devastated people. Come out in the morning to find Converse Chuck Taylor shoe prints and no carrots. Boy! We loved summertime carrots. Sorry about that! Was the worst crime we ever committed.

We got caught once by the police -- well, at least Wally did. We didn't ever really break the law (except above), but loved to pretend police were after us. We were walking down a dark alley when a squad car pulled in behind us. Wally was faster than me and got a head start. I was smarter (LOL). As we turned the corner, I dove into bushes. He kept running. Police tracked him down. I escaped capture!!!

I remained in the bushes for about an hour. When I crept back to the house, he and his mom met me outside. She was upset of course. Police had brought him home. "What were you two doing?" We remained straight and true to our cover story, as would good soldiers -- "Thirsty! Wanted to go to 7-11 for a Slurpee."

Chrissy didn't rat us out to Papa Kelly or Daddy Goold. They would have kicked our butts. Wally's mom was a saint. She loved both of us greatly.

The truth is we knew where some young ladies were sleeping out. We were on a Night Mission. Didn't make it that evening -- were successful on future nights. We were good kids. Hooking up with girls in our day meant listening to the radio and talking story.

Kissing a girl was quite scary to me. My real first kiss came from PH. Wally and I both loved her deeply. I got to know her first. She taught me how to respect and date a woman. As I was simply too young to date, she ended up going out with Wally. I knew I was out of my league, but always envied him. PH remains a deep love of mine. Thank you both!

Spent our summer evenings cruising Pocatello in a three-some with Chris Frost. What a great coach and teacher Chris has become. Chris had an amazing car. Stick shift. Fast. Totally mean! They knew all the hot women as well. They took me, as I was a good athlete and friend.

I was of course always the geek. Many nights they would leave me at our favorite taco shop as they headed out with ladies. I was their younger brother. They were men. I was a boy. Both always had my back. Two great heroes of mine!

Wally was always more sophisticated -- in everything. He was the baby of his family. I was first-born of mine. He was my mentor and life teacher. I was both a geek and nerd. He was worldly. I was the scientist and smart guy. Wally didn't put as much time into school or classes.

His dad told us often, "Not what you know, but who you know." This explains Wally's life. He knew everyone; he made people smile; he knew how to bring happiness to others; he always had a wonderful story and was dedicated to helping others.

I was the bookworm. I also ended up being the better athlete. He was a very good athlete. I was great. As he had lots of friends, his time was divided. I was an odd boy and have always been a quiet, lonely man. I spent more time alone on the basketball court and in the classroom. Today, I'm a former pro athlete and now a computer programmer.

I've been successful. He was a hero. I'm so blessed to have grow up with Wally Kelly. My heart is sad, extremely sad, and broken today.

Wally, my brother, thank you for mentoring and guiding me. Love you deeply and always.

July 17, 2019

My deepest condolences to the Kelly family. Wally was an inspiration to many of us and was a great friend and brother Bengal. RIP # 13 you won't be forgotten.

Ed McGill

Mike Mitchell

July 17, 2019

Wally was bigger than life, so full of energy, charisma and remarkably successful. I have very fond memories working with him and the team at Outdoor Systems. He treated everyone with honor and respect, was tough when needed but also very supportive and generous. May God comfort and dwell close to family and friends in the days, weeks and years to come.
Sincerely,
Mike Mitchell

Penny Holman Fisher

July 17, 2019

Leaving my relationship as classmate doesn't really say enough. I thought very highly of Wally and his family. They always were so kind to me. Wallly even reached out and helped me in fund raising for an all inclusive children's park in his childhood home town, Pocatello, Idaho. I will forever be grateful for his friendship and willingness to help others. He will be missed dearly by so many people. Me being one of them. May God grant you peace in your hearts at this time and much joy in your memories that will last you a lifetime.

Steve Matlock

July 16, 2019

Wally was not only a great business leader and outstanding athlete but also a terrific friend. Wally was always kind, humble, polite and fun! His legacy includes his generosity and love for family and friends. Wally was a role model for young and old alike. He will be missed greatly but never forgotten! May he Rest In Peace!Steve Matlock

Rudy Bartol

July 16, 2019

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

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