Kelly Reeves

Kelly Don Reeves was born in Ralls, Texas, on July 27, 1946 to Herman and Hylen Holloway Reeves. He grew up in several small West Texas towns and in Yuma, Arizona where Herman farmed the newly irrigated desert. Kelly graduated from Graham High School in 1964 where he ran track and was a football standout. There he played on the Steers state semi-final team. He first attended Murray State Junior College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma before transferring to Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. There he played on nationally ranked teams, was influenced by several prominent coaches and developed lifelong friendships. Kelly received his Bachelor and Master’s Degrees from Highlands where he served as a graduate assistant coach. He spent thirty-five years in public education. Kelly loved teaching and primarily taught science, including Biology. He taught and coached at Liberal High School in Kansas, Anson High School, Brazosport High School, Schertz-Clemens High School, and Westwood High School, all in Texas. In 1981, Kelly became the first head football coach and athletic coordinator at Westwood High School in the Round Rock School District. He spent eight years in that position before accepting the position of Athletic Director for the Round Rock ISD in 1989. He retired from that position in 2005. In retirement, Kelly worked part-time in sales for the south central region for Daktronics, Inc., a scoreboard and video replay system manufacturer. Throughout his career Kelly touched the lives of countless players; teaching them not just the game but also the life lessons learned through football. Kelly clearly won the respect and admiration of his peers in the coaching fraternity. He continually expressed his appreciation for the support his former players and fellow coaches displayed throughout his two-year fight with cancer. Kelly was named Athletic Director of the year for the state of Texas in 1996. He received the State Award of Merit in 1998 from the Texas High School Athletic Director’s Association, and was elected to the THSADA Hall of Honor in 2000. He served the THSADA as a board member, vice president and as president. In 2005, Kelly received the THSADA President’s award for his contribution to high school athletics in Texas. In 1998, Kelly was elected to the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Board of Directors. In 2003, Kelly was recognized by the NIAAA for service to high school athletics and awarded a NIAAA Citation.From 2000 to 2005 and again in 2007, he served the NIAAA and the THSADA as the Texas State Coordinator for Leadership Training for high school athletic directors in the state of Texas. In this position, he taught many classes to athletic directors across the state of Texas and in 2009 the THSADA honored Kelly with the Professional Development Award.In 2000 Kelly received the Honorary Life Time Membership Award from the PTA of Texas.Kelly was formerly a member of Pond Springs Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School for twenty-four years and served on numerous committees. He and Pauletta recently joined First Baptist Church, Austin.Kelly led a very active life and loved the outdoors. He loved camping and fishing. Kelly enjoyed trips to the mountains of New Mexico and took his boys on frequent fishing trips to Port Aransas. He was always working; around the house, mowing the church yard, or on his property in Salado. Kelly was a music lover and also enjoyed Texas history. Above all, Kelly was a family man—a loving husband and an incredible father. Kelly is survived by his loving family—Pauletta, his wife of thirty-seven years; his son, Stephen Reeves and wife Deborah of Austin, and his son, Brad Reeves and wife Amanda, and granddaughter Madison Reeves and grandson Eli Reeves of Georgetown; his brother, Jerry Reeves and wife Dawn of Aubrey, TX, and his brother, Robin Reeves and wife Debbie, of Murphy, TX, and his sister-in-law, Patricia Reeves of Maryville, TN, as well as several nieces and nephews. Kelly was preceded in death by his mother and father, Hylen and Herman Reeves of Anson, TX; his infant sister, Constance Reeves and his brother Larry Reeves of Maryville, TN.Pallbearers include Ron Baker, Tommy Cox, Jim Elam, Ken Houlett, Mike Jolly, Jim Loerwald, Bob Mann and Norman Sansom.Visitation will be at Cook-Walden/Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home on Anderson Mill Road in Austin on Monday, November 23, from 6 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Austin, 9th and Trinity, on Tuesday, November 24 at 2:30 p.m. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson, TX at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 25.Arrangements under the direction of Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, Austin, TX. (512) 335-1155.