ON THE AVENUES: The late, great Lee Kelly -- by Matt Nash.

Lewie Stevens, Lee Kelly, John Dougherty
and Kent Sterling (1978-1980).

A few years later, minus Stevens.

On Tuesday the NA Confidential blog observed a day of silence in honor of Lee Kelly, who died on Monday. It seemed the best way; for one day, I'd shut up and observe what everyone else was saying about Lee's impact on their lives.

• At WNAS radio, always first and foremost.
• At the News and Tribune.
• At the Indianapolis Star.
• At the website of former NAHS student and Indy sports broadcaster Kent Sterling.
• At WDRB, a tribute written by Rick Bozich.
• At sportswriter Pat Forde's Twitter account.

And also by Matt Nash, with whom I share the periodically odoriferous distinction of being a former New Albany Tribune/News and Tribune columnist. Upon Lee's retirement in May of 2013, Matt recorded his thoughts, and has given me permission to repeat them here.

Matt's essay obviously was not intended as a eulogy, and that's why it's perfect. Lee's retirement proved to be all too short, and that's profoundly sad, but he also made a difference in the lives of hundreds, probably thousands of people. They'll remember Lee for the very same experiences Matt writes about here, and it's the accumulation of these little things that make up the best curtain call of all.

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NASH: The voice of the Bulldogs, by Matthew Nash (May 31, 2013)

When the final school bell rang at New Albany High School on the 2013 term, another legendary teacher left the building for the final time. He had a profound impact on me as a student and one of the few teachers that when I see them out in the community, I want to go up and engage him in conversation.

Next year someone new will come and take over at WNAS radio, but it will not be the same now that Lee Kelly has decided to hang up the microphone.

It is not an exaggeration when I say that I may not have made it through high school without his class and I am a better person for having him as an instructor. I was a kid that had a lot of potential when it came to studies, but I didn’t always apply myself as much as I could. A lot of the classes I took I thought were boring and did not interest me until I discovered radio. Although I did not pursue a career in broadcasting, I feel like that class helped me in many aspects of my life including writing this column every week.

I still remember the first day of class my junior year of high school. I had radio class second period and walking into the “station” back then was a little intimidating. The class was a mix of experienced seniors and the new juniors that all had to audition the year earlier in order to get in. As you walked into the suite of rooms that held the offices, transmitter, television production, editing and television and radio studios, you no longer felt like you were in the same building as the other 1,200 or so students in high school. You were part of something special.

At the top of every hour you were required to say what is called the “station identification.” Everyone has heard it a million times; it’s just so common we don’t seem to notice anymore. The “station identification” consist of the call letters and the city of license. The FCC requires all broadcast stations, television and radio to announce this as close to the top of every hour as possible. Mr. Kelly’s first job was to teach all new students how to pronounce it properly. Nearly everyone on first try would say dubya N-A-S when the correct way to say it is “double U” N-A-S.

Mr. Kelly helped with my interest in politics as part of our radio/television class. In conjunction with Mr. Dusch’s government class, we invited candidates to come and tape statements to play on the local cable station. It is still a huge part of local elections. I was a big part of that in my two years in his class and I later returned to tape my own segment when I ran for county council several years back. That was in the same studio that I used when I was a student with much of the same equipment. Construction had begun on the new studio and Mr. Kelly took the time to take me to the studio that was being built that they would move into the following year.

Back then Mr. Kelly planned and chaperoned a spring break field trip to New York City every couple of years. Looking back it must have taken a lot of guts to take a bus load of 17- and 18-year-olds to The Big Apple like that. I was part of the group back in 1987 and I still have many fond memories. Besides seeing the usual sights we saw two Broadway plays, “A Chorus Line” was in the middle of its record run and Neil Simon’s “Broadway Bound” — the third part of his semi-autobiographical trilogy staring Linda Lavin and Jonathon Silverman. We also caught a glimpse of Morgan Fairchild during a tour of the NBC building “Thirty Rock.”

We were able to see how a television show was produced when we got up early one day and went and saw “The CBS Morning Program.” Back then Mariette Hartley was the host and Mark McEwen was the weatherman. A pre “Full House” Bob Saget had a comedy segment in that program and warmed up the audience before the show. Recognizing that everyone was wearing our station logo sweatshirts he started a conversation with members of our group. He even joked with one of our other chaperones about how unfortunate it was to be a teacher with a name that was phonetically the same as a feminine hygiene product.

When I was in grade school we would listen for our favorite song on WNAS and even called the request line to hear it. We would wake up in the winter when there was snow on the ground to hear Mr. Kelly tell us whether or not school was in session during his “Coffee with Kelly” morning broadcast. For years before high school I would listen to him announce basketball on 88.1 and still do to this day especially during tournament time. Following Bulldog football and basketball will not be the same now that Lee Kelly has retired.

The moniker “Voice of the Bulldogs” was given to the radio station many years ago. I believe that it should be permanently retired along with Mr. Kelly as a tribute to his years of service to the radio station, the school and to our community.

I wish Mr. Kelly all the best during his much deserved retirement. With his voice I am sure he could have had any job he wanted in broadcasting and made as much money as he needed. He chose to teach high school and was able to touch thousands of lives over his 40 years at WNAS New Albany. I am a better person for having him as a teacher and proud to call him a friend.

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Recent columns:

May 21: ON THE AVENUES: Godlessness in defense of heathens, infidels, idolaters, atheists, non-theists, irreligious people, agnostics, skeptics, heretics and apostates.

May 14: ON THE AVENUES: Food is my friend, but please, I'm no foodie.

May 7: ON THE AVENUES: COVID tolls for thee -- whatever, so hurry and get your ass back into this seat.

April 30: ON THE AVENUES: A week that was wooden like Pinocchio and dry as an unused water park or an unfilled glass.

Madam, I'm Adam: Local Dem's latest revolving door candidate for District 72 House makes the news.

You'd think Adam could find SOMEONE among the DemoDisneyDixiecrats to run against Ed Clere who isn't a teacher, a former teacher or married to a teacher. I mean, the law of averages, (center) right?

Don't get me wrong. My mother was a teacher, and I grew up around teachers. I made various ineffectual attempts to be a teacher, and often have pretended to be a (beer) teacher. Ed's wife Amy is a teacher. I respect teachers immensely.

It's just this: what's the statistical probability that the Democrats would continue to go to the same well for candidates when it never seems to work out for them?

The last candidate for 72 to fit this bill was shadowy city attorney Shane Gibson, who took time from a busy schedule of depositing big buck bond bonuses to contest the seat in 2010. He lost, thus establishing a pattern that persists to the present day.

Hell, I'll do it in 2022. Ed and I could stage an informative and collegial series of co-campaign events featuring an actual discussion of genuine issues. 

Nah, never mind. Squire Adam wouldn't go for THAT, would he?

Rep. Clere's one-time challenger in 2020 is Erica Lawrence, an educator and principal who works in Louisville, and she's kicking off her campaign at the Division Street School on Sunday, March 15. 

Let's allow the esteemed local party chairman sufficient time to rationalize the following. Surely the departed Kentucky governor Matt Bevin can be blamed for it.

Three more JCPS principals recommended for removal after state audits, by Kevin Wheatley (WDRB)

Three principals at Jefferson County Public Schools have been deemed unfit to lead their struggling schools’ turnaround efforts following diagnostic audits by the Kentucky Department of Education.

That means the state has recommended that nine JCPS principals at schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement shouldn’t be retained in their positions. JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio will decide whether to retain those principals.

One, former Mill Creek Elementary Principal Michelle Pennix, has already accepted a voluntary reassignment.

In the latest batch of diagnostic reviews released Monday, the state recommended that Engelhard Elementary Principal Ryan McCoy, Trunnell Elementary Principal Stephanie Smith and Young Elementary Principal Erica Lawrence be removed from their schools and reassigned to comparable positions.

Lawrence is a Democratic candidate for Indiana's House of Representatives, challenging Republican Rep. Ed Clere for his seat representing the New Albany area.

JCPS Communications Director Renee Murphy said Pollio will meet with the affected principals and determine next steps at a later date ...

R.I.P. Sue Baylor.

Diana and I are saddened to report my mother’s passing. Sue Baylor died this afternoon at around 4 p.m. This weekend, we knew the end was close, and we're grateful that it was peaceful and she didn't suffer. Her body was giving out, and finally she let go.

An appreciation and information about arrangements will be forthcoming.

Until then, I gently recommend that readers remember my mom by thanking a teacher – and our profuse thanks to everyone for your words and thoughts these past few days.

There were two posts ready in the hopper today, and I've just published them both. On Monday, March 13, I'll be observing a day of silence at the blog. We'll be back in some fashion on Tuesday.

About my mother's condition.

The following was posted on Thursday evening at Facebook. I've struggled with issues of privacy versus my compulsion to disseminate news deemed to be important. In 2016, several of my mom's former teaching colleagues at Floyd Central High School died, among them Pat Conard, Joe Gilbert, Glenn Edwards, Bob Youngblood and Mick Neely. The latter two were tremendously influential in my life, and naturally my mom had students who might say this, too. In fact, many of them have, commenting on Facebook, and these testimonials have been immensely helpful to me as we await her letting go. As for now, she is resting with the minimum of medication, just what is necessary to ease discomfort. It is not likely that she'll regain consciousness. Thanks to everyone (several hundred at last count) who have read and commented at Fb. If you know mother and son at all, it will come as absolutely no surprise that she has been far more prepared for this than me.  

Whatever ability I have with words is failing me this evening, and so for once allow me to step away from the character I’ve chosen to inhabit and speak plainly.

For the past two months, Sue Baylor's health has been failing, and these almost certainly are her final days. I hope I’m wrong about this, but facts are facts. As ever the consummately organized ex-teacher, my mother always has made her end-of-life wishes perfectly clear, and I’ve done my best to honor them.

Hosparus (hospice) became involved about two weeks ago, and I’m grateful for the assistance. Nurse Debbie visits Mom at Silvercrest on the skilled nursing floor, and she’s crackerjack.

Mom has not been in any pain; at 84, her body’s just giving out, and at some point soon, she’ll decide to let go. She’s sleeping a lot, in and out of lucidity. For those wishing to say goodbye, I can’t recommend a visit, but I’m not prohibiting it, either. Neither mother nor son is religious, but in like fashion, I’m not about to dictate the form and content of your kind thoughts.

My mother has had a good life, and she taught hundreds of students (mostly girls, but a few guys, too – including me) how to cook. She never drank, but of course I picked up the slack in that department. I’ll let you and the world know what’s happening when there’s something to report. Thanks for reading, and please let others know if you think the notification is appropriate.

R.I.P. Bob Youngblood, 1943 - 2016.

For those who didn't know Bob, he was a teacher at Floyd Central for more than 30 years. Speaking personally, he had a tremendous impact on my life.

Bob died yesterday after suffering a brain aneurysm earlier in the week, and to be perfectly honest, it's a bit much for me at the moment.

Words don't often fail me, but this is different. When they return, I'll write more, and also update this space when funeral arrangements are announced.

Ladies and gentleman, give it up for Doug Elmore.

For much of the 1980s, I took a modular approach to work: Evenings and weekends at the package store and daylight hours substitute teaching, with various summer gigs thrown in for travel cash.

So it was that I got to know Doug Elmore when he came on the scene at Floyd Central, and he was intense, driven and damned good at his chosen career. Later I embarked upon my own career of sorts, enabling me to share pints with Doug at the pub and talk about music -- classical, jazz, whatever. He generally was on hand to deliver color commentary during the era of the Butthead Bass Quartet, too.

He's a great guy, and deserving of this honor.

EXCELLENCE: Floyd County Orchestra teacher Doug Elmore wins state award, by Jerod Clapp (News and Tribune)

... “This award was wonderful because it was given and selected by a bunch of my peers — people who do this for a living,” Elmore said. “Being selected by your peers is great and there are a lot of really fine string instructors in Indiana who have done this for a long time. A lot of people other than me could have gotten this and I would have been fine.”

Elmore has taught orchestra at Floyd Central and Highland Hills Middle School for nearly 30 years. Aside from helping students master their instruments, he said he hopes to spark a passion for music that goes beyond his classroom and permeates the culture of the schools where he teaches.

Floyd County: Drunken sailors welcome here.

It's just surreal, that's all.

We've shifted from perpetual scorched earth into full speed drive-through windows framed with gold, as the city and county bond millions in a Parks Race, and the school corporation silences the earth movers charged with devouring the neighborhood around NAHS just long enough to fatten pay packets ... well, let's party!

All NA-FC employees deserving a pay raise, please step forward.

(Umm, not so fast, teachers)

New Albany-Floyd County school board approves raises, by Grace Schneider (CJ)

After a string of years where tight budgets ruled, the New Albany-Floyd County school board opened the checkbook Monday night and approved salary increases for bus drivers, cooks, principals, school psychologists and top administrators.

Principals and other central-office administrators received the largest increase, 1.5 percent overall, with a few receiving 4 percent or more under a package that aims to standardize pay rates for positions ...

... The pay increases come after the school board voted unanimously last October to approve no pay increases for the school system’s 650 teachers under a contract that covered the last school year. The board also voted to drastically reduce teacher health care benefits, saying the reductions were necessary because of an expected $2.8 million reduction in state aid during 2012-2013.

Before the 5-1 vote, board member Becky Gardenour said she objected to taking action on administrator raises before the board could consider what to do for teachers.

“To me, we should be dealing with the teachers before the administrators. I think it’s backwards,” said Gardenour, who cast the only vote in opposition. Roger Whaley abstained because his wife is the Floyd Central principal.

How sweet it is: Sour grapes and fluffery from St. Daniels.

I never doubted that Barack Obama would win, but at no time did I ever foresee the sheer entertainment value afforded us during the weeks since.

Tony Bennett had wheelbarrows of out-of-state cash, and yet lost his re-election bid to an under-funded opponent whose advisors evidently read "Moneyball" and profited from the lessons therein.

Thus, these crazed sour grapes from the departing Colossus of the Prairie, uttered at a circle jerk of a symposium devoted to Republicans giving screw-the-people awards to each other. Attendees listened as Mitch Daniels began babbling about reaction, never realizing he was looking in the mirror of the men's room, reminding us that when it comes to fluffing, it's all about location, location, location.

Bennett lost neither because teachers used school time to undermine him, nor owing to voters suddenly becoming dispassionate analysts of impenetrable school "reform" information. He lost because of his day in, day out demeanor. Bennett cannot read a lawnmower instruction manual aloud without coming across as pompous, arrogant and a good deal snarky, rather in the fashion of his fellow GOP loser, Richard Mourdock, although Mourdock always seemed less arrogant than entirely detached from daily reality, like that guy at the end of the bar who's off his prescriptions but firmly on the gin.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels claims teachers used illegal tactics in election (Courier-Journal)

“Despite the great progress that's been made in states like ours, the forces of reaction never quit,” Daniels said. “The last twitch of the dinosaur's tail can still kill you and that's what happened.”