Tom Kelley of Omaha — star athlete, tank commander, wounded prisoner of war, lawyer, politico and horseman — died long ago on a Father’s Day, and his only offspring still misses him.
“He was bigger than life,” said attorney Mike Kelley, 70. “A tough act to follow.”
Tom was the starting quarterback on the final Creighton University football team in 1942 and a starting pitcher in 1948 in the first game ever played at the old Rosenblatt Stadium.
It was called Municipal Stadium when he pitched against major leaguers in that opening exhibition game. Two years later, the ballpark became home to the College World Series — and since 2011 at TD Ameritrade Park, the 68th year in Omaha.