The comments definitely were offered in jest, and immediately were followed by laughter and then obviously sincere words of praise.But, it’s undoubtedly a measure of the union’s affection for newly retired SIU Mobile, Ala. Port Agent Ed Kelly that the first few quotes solicited for this article brought forth descriptions from different people including “big pain in the rear,” “grouchy so-and-so,” and “grumpy old [person].”
Far more revealing and heartfelt was this sentiment from SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey: “I hope we still see him around in the port of Mobile. He did a great job for us, and it was a pleasure working with him. Ed comes from a long line of charter SIU members and has a history with the union dating to its inception. He’s a great guy.”
Kelly, 65, recently called it quits after an SIU career dating to 1981.
While he indeed hails from a seafaring family, Kelly traveled an atypical route to the SIU. He had been a schoolteacher and was working as head coach of the track and cross country teams at the University of South Alabama when he decided to take advantage of an opening with the union.
“At first, I thought, what the heck did I get myself into?” Kelly recalled with a chuckle. “But I’ve made friends for life in the SIU. I loved servicing, meeting the members and ‘preaching’ about the SIU. The union became my home and my family.”
A native of the small town of Theodore, Ala., he worked in other halls from time to time, including facilities in Houston, New Orleans, Jacksonville and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., but spent most of his career in Mobile. Kelly served as port agent there beginning in 1999.
“One thing that struck me is that no matter what hall you went to, the members all felt the same way about the SIU, and it was very positive,” he noted. “What that meant to me was the leadership and the rank-and-file were all on the same page.”
Kelly’s father, Ed Kelly Sr., joined the union right after World War II and eventually sailed as a recertified steward. Kelly also had five uncles who were Seafarers, including charter member Jack Kelly, who sailed in both the deep sea and inland divisions.
The newly retired Kelly listed among his fondest memories the years he worked in Houston in the late 1990s; assisting with a post-September 11 donation to the International Association of Fire Fighters from the Greater Mobile Port Maritime Council, where he served as secretary-treasurer; participating in grassroots activities promoting pro-maritime legislation; and working with the late Steve Judd, SIU assistant vice president based in New Orleans, who died unexpectedly in early 2006.
SIU Assistant Vice President Gulf Coast Jim McGee described Kelly as “good to work with. He would follow up and take care of business. I wish him nothing but the best in retirement.”
Ft. Lauderdale Port Agent Kenny Moore, citing Kelly’s well-known passion for golf, said, “I’m sure he’s on a course right now. He’s a very sharp guy who never shied away from hard work. He has a great sense of humor and I wish him all the luck in the world.”
Kelly, reached (at home) in mid-October, said he is “happy to be retired, but I miss my peers.”
At the end of a long conversation filled with laughs, he turned serious when offering this thought for experienced Seafarers: “It’s the job of older members to teach younger members about the union—to help them learn to care about it. Somebody taught you, so what’s wrong with you teaching them? That’s something that’ll keep the union strong for everyone.”
Printer Friendly Page