Kevin R. Kellar

Kevin R. Kellar, highly respected Maryland horseman and manager for 40 years of the famous Worthington Farms in Glyndon, Maryland died on Christmas Eve following a brief bout with pneumonia. He was 71 years old.
Born in Baltimore on July 31, 1954, he was the younger son of Alexander J. and Jo Ann Kellar of Overlea. He attended John Carroll High School in Bel Air where he excelled in both athletics and academics. His baseball career included pitching a complete game at Memorial Stadium to defeat rival McDonogh in the 1971 MSA B Conference championship. His grades earned him admission to the University of Maryland history program, where he graduated with a B.A. in 1976.
His career in the equine industry began in high school, when he worked weekends at Bel Air's Thoroughbred nursery, Country Life Farm. After college, he was hired as farm manager by Country Life owner Joe Pons. In 1980, Worthington Farms owners Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Y. Martin approached Pons about offering his young employee the position of stallion manager for Worthington's national sensation Lord Gaylord. Pons highly recommended him to the Martins.
Kevin's skill with horses was matched by his skill with horse people. Soon he had another leading sire in his care in Northern Raja, whose offspring were in high demand as show jumpers.
"Kevin did so much for all the people on the farm," Mrs. Glennie Martin said. "He was more than just a horseman. He cared for everyone. With his vegetable garden, he fed the farm. He did it all without asking."
As Worthington Farms is home to the legendary Maryland Hunt Cup, Kevin's responsibilities included year-round oversight of the vast four-mile course that straddles Tufton Avenue. No racecourse has ever been maintained with such care, and his hard work earned the respect of fans as well as steeplechase owners, trainers, and riders.
"All the little hidden things on a farm, he did so well," said J. W. Y. "Duck" Martin. "The paddock for the Hunt Cup, he took special pride in its appearance." Kevin and his wife Julie were also the host of an annual post-Hunt Cup celebration hosted at the family home on the farm for nearly 40 years.
As superb a horseman as he was, Kevin was an even more remarkable husband and father. He showed up to every game, recital, and graduation, and always made his support for his children known, often audibly. He and Julie created a loving home that his children visited frequently even after graduating college (sometimes for longer than Kevin anticipated). Kevin instilled his work ethic and kindness into each of his children and raised them to always push themselves beyond their perceived limitations. In return, he was rewarded with eight more years of collegiate lacrosse games to attend and three different graduate school commencement ceremonies he was forced to endure. As expected, Kevin was at every event with bells on (and team-issued apparel).
Kevin took immense joy in his family and was thoroughly savoring the Back-9 of life. He was particularly proud to watch each of his three children be married on Worthington Farms. He adopted the moniker "K-Pop" and entered his Granddad-era, a role that he excelled in. While Kevin loved telling the stories of days gone by, he was wise enough to know that he was living at the pinnacle of life and was always quick to remind his family how blessed and lucky they were to have all the grandparents, siblings and grandchildren under one roof.
Those who were familiar with Kevin know that he is at peace somewhere on a beach, Yuengling in hand, happily telling an (embellished) story, reciting the roster of the 1971 Baltimore Colts, or trying to convince his kids that Len Bias would have beaten Michael Jordan 1-on-1.
Kevin will be fondly remembered by many, but especially by Julie Campbell Kellar, his amazing wife of 41 years, and by his older brother, Raymond M. Kellar, both of whom will not soon forget his hardheadedness or the warmth and comfort of sharing a conversation with him. And Kevin is finally enjoying long-awaited embraces with his parents, his sisters Mary Anne Bradshaw and Karen MacLeod, and his father-in-law, Donald Campbell, each of whom predeceased him.
The legend and spirit of Kevin/K-Pop will live on through his children and their spouses, Emmit (Lindsey), Benjamin (Christina), and Emily Brown (Tyler); grandchildren Campbell, Jackson, Noah, and Preslee; and nephews and nieces Jennifer Kellar, Brian and Megan Bradshaw, Alexander, Tyler, Suzannah, and Colton MacLeod, Austen and Carson Mulieri, and Jeremy Mog.
A memorial mass will be held this Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. St. Joseph's Church (100 Church Lane, Cockeysville, MD 21030), and a celebration of life will take place at Worthington Farms at the family home (3207 Tufton Avenue, Reisterstown, MD 21136) on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, beginning at 3 p.m., to whenever the Ravens beat the Steelers (the Sunday gathering will be held under a heated tent, so please dress casually).