A Tribute to Pat Kelly
by Kas Stewart, SVP & AAP
George Russell “Pat” Kelly
4/29/1933 – 5/26/2024
Pat Kelly began his banking career at Liberty National Bank, shortly after graduation from high school. He worked there for 43 years before joining The Bankers Bank, where he continued to call on banks across the state of Oklahoma. Pat loved his customers and was a strong advocate for all. Errors or omissions were quickly resolved.
“Don’t follow me, I am slow.” He hated tickets, so he left early and drove at a speed that was comfortable. Fence posts “flew” by like telephone poles.
Pat loved a good joke, whether he was playing it on someone, or they were playing one on him. He also liked puzzles, jigsaws, crypto quip and the daily newspaper crossword, which he and his wife, Beverly, worked together – one completing the across words and the other taking the down words.
Pat was a cowboy, unafraid and always active. He lived a full life. There were stories from the Troop Trains, baseball and basketball at OCU with Abe Lemons and Paul Hansen, the “rush” he felt when he decided to try bull riding and then there was racquet ball. Pat also hosted an annual Gin tournament with some old banker friends at his cabin at Porum Landing, where he (and his partner) held the record at 28-2.
Pat will not soon be forgotten as many of us are reminded daily of his words of wisdom:
If you are on time, you are late!
Take the stairs as long as you can.
Never park directly in front of a bank, those spaces are for bank customers.
Only one question remains, if your name is George Russell Kelly, where did “Pat” come from?
Rest in Peace, dear friend.
