Background
Kelly, William Watkins was born on September 21, 1928 in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. Son of John Jackson and Trula (Watkins) Kelly.
educational association executive
Kelly, William Watkins was born on September 21, 1928 in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. Son of John Jackson and Trula (Watkins) Kelly.
Bachelor, Virginia Military Institute, 1950. A.M., Duke University, 1955. Doctor of Philosophy, Duke University, 1957.
Commandant cadets, teacher English John Marshall High School, Richmond, Virginia, 1950-1952. Instructor English Virginia Military Institute, 1952-1953, English Air Force Academy, 1957-1958, assistant professor, 1958-1960, English Virginia Military Institute, 1960-1962. Assistant professor American thought and language Michigan State University, 1962-1965, associate professor, 1965-1969.
Associate director The Honors College, 1965-1968, director, 1968-1969. President Mary Baldwin College, 1969-1976, Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, 1976-1981. Senior associate University Associates, 1981-1982.
Executive vice president L.Q.C. Lamar Society, 1981-1982. President Alabama Association Indiana Colleges and Universities, 1982-1988, Georgia Foundation for Indiana Colleges Inc., Atlanta, 1988-1996. President emeritus, since 1996.
President Association Private Colleges and Universities in Georgia, Atlanta, 1990-1996. Senior vice president Jon McRae & Associates Inc., 1996—2001. Director college and unv. relations Connexxia, 2001—2005.
Senior advisory higher education division James Tower, 2005—2007. Senior associate Jon McRae and Associates, 2007—2009. Vice president of senior advisor Myers McRae, since 2010.
Member Virginia Commission on Status of Women, 1973-1976, Kentucky Commission on Status of Women, 1977-1981. Chairman Kentucky Rhodes Scholar Selection Committee, 1978-1979. President Council Indiana Kentucky Colleges and Universities, 1978-1980.
Board directors Alabama Humanities Foundation, 1983-1988, chairman board directors, 1985-1987. Board directors, executive committee Georgia Humanities Council, 1989-1996, vice chair, 1991-1993, chair, 1994-1996. Retired lieutenant colonel United States Air Force, 1950-1982.
Trustee ODK Lifetime Foundation, since 2010. With ODF Five Star Society, 2010. Board directors ODK Foundation, 2002—2010, Kentucky State Chamber of C., 1980—1982.
Trustee Greensboro College, 1993—2000, 2002—2009. Fellow Foundation Indiana Higher Education (national presiding officer 1992-1994, Distinguished Performance award 1996). Member Modern Language Association, American Studies Association, Society Values in Higher Education, American Association Higher Education, Ellen Glasgow Society (president 1973-1975), Newcomen Society North America, Rotary (Paul Harris fellow), Phi Beta Kappa, The Fellows of Phi Beta Kappa (board directors since 2000), Omicron Delta Kappa (Foundation board directors 2002-2010, lifetime foundation trustee since 2010), Rotary.
Married Lura Jane Kelly, February 14, 1953 (divorced January 14, 1983). Children: William Watkins (Junior), Robert Jackson, Blair Massey, Gregory Clark. Married Catherine Messer Penney, January 22, 1983.