James Whyte Kelly Jr. (1911–1990) was an American Republican Party politician who was Mayor of East Orange, New Jersey from 1958 to 1970. He held a number of other civic positions, including being president of the New Jersey Council of Mayors.
Personal life Kelly was born in West Haverstraw, New York in 1911. He graduated from Bound Brook High School in 1929 and attended Muhlenberg College where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He was a member of the Middlebrook Players, a thespian company. He married Louise Harriet Wild, daughter of John Wild in May 1937.Couple Wedded In Bound Brook on Saturday, The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey) May 2, 1937, page 10, accessed December 28, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16065749/Vote Republican [advertisement], The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey) 31 Oct 1946, page 4, accessed December 28, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16066041/vote_republican_advertisement_the/
In 1965, Kelly, then a widower, married Essex County Freeholder Margaret G. Marucci, a widow.
Kelly received the designation of Outstanding Irishman of 1958 by the Patrick's Guard of Honor of New Jersey, a body of which he was president in 1975.Little Silver Man Cited by the Irish, Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, New Jersey) 4 Dec 1975, page D3, accessed December 28, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16068037/
Career After college he worked at the Public Service Electric and Gas Company. In the 1940s he served as a city councilman in Middlesex, New Jersey and worked as a purchasing agent for Interchemical Corporation.
Kelly was active in the local YMCA, served on the local board, and was president of the YMCA industrial council. In 1943, Kelly joined Bound Brook company, R. B. H. Dispersions, starting as an assistant purchasing agent and being promoted to purchasing agent in June 1944. Kelly was appointed special assistant to the divisional president of the R. B. H. Dispersions in 1947.James W. Kelly Named to Post. The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey) 10 Mar 1947, page 4, accessed December 28, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16066090/ Kelly left the city council in 1951.Council Seat to be Filled, The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey) 28 Mar 1951, page 2, accessed December 28, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16067598/council_seat_to_be_filled_the/ Kelly also served as President of the Essex County Board of Taxation in the early 1950s.
Kelly served as Mayor of East Orange, New Jersey, from 1958 to 1970. Kelly was the first Democratic mayor of East Orange since 1911 and defeated William M. McConnell in an upset.E. Orange Picks Mayor, First Dem Since 1911, The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey) 5 Nov 1958, page 1, accessed December 28, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16068098/ In 1968, Kelly served as president of the New Jersey Council of Mayors.Public Urged to Increase Role in Government. The Daily Journal (Vineland, New Jersey) 15 Jan 1968, page 9, accessed December 28, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16067634/ Kelly was defeated in 1969 by William S. Hart, the first elected black mayor of a major New Jersey community.Black Mayor Takes Office, The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey) 2 Jan 1970, page 8, accessed December 28, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16067974/
He died in 1990.
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