WACO, Texas (KWTX) – A painting honoring a late federal bankruptcy judge who served the public for more than two decades before his death in 2014 has been unveiled at the federal courthouse in downtown Waco.
The painting, which now hangs in the hallway outside the bankruptcy courtroom, features Larry Kelly, who served as the U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Texas for almost 22 years. Kelly died in 2014 at age 68.
The judge’s widow, Suzanne Kelly, of Waco, said her family is grateful for the tribute.
“It was a memorable and rewarding experience to see the portrait of Larry Kelly, our husband and father, honored with his portrait hanging in the halls of Waco’s U.S. District Courthouse,” Suzanne told KWTX. “He spent so many hours there, and it is comforting to know that his presence and legacy will live on where his judicial work meant so much.”
Ryan Kelly is the late judge’s son. Ryan worked for many years as an anchor at KWTX before moving to Austin. He said his father would have been honored to have a portrait in the town that meant so much to him.
“The portrait unveiling was a nice tribute to my dad’s legal career,” Ryan said. “He held court when he was a federal judge in San Antonio and in Austin, but the Waco courthouse holds an especially special place. Our family has deep roots in Waco; we were all raised in Waco, and he also taught for many years at Baylor Law School. So, knowing his portrait will hang in the courthouse, I know, is special to him and to our family.”
Beard Kultgen Law Firm, where Kelly worked following his retirement, said Kelly would always be remembered as one of the best in his profession.
“Judge Kelly was recognized as one of the most brilliant minds in the bankruptcy practice by lawyers and judges across the country,” the firm said. “His advice and counsel were widely sought.”
The painting was done by San Antonio artist Elizabeth Holman. Suzanne said the painting was the idea of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ronald King and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Micheal Parker.
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