Edward Kelly

Edward Joseph Kelly (February 26, 1890 – April 21, 1956) was a Roman Catholic clergyman from the United States. He was a bishop and led the Diocese of Boise, encompassing all of Idaho, for nearly three decades.

Kelly was born in The Dalles, Oregon, the third of five children of James Leo and Henrietta (née Wakefield) Kelly. He received his early education at St. Mary's Academy in his native city, and made his classical studies at Columbia University in Portland.

He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California, and proceeded to the Pontifical North American College and Propaganda University in Rome.

Kelly was ordained a priest in Rome on June 2, 1917. He then served as a missionary in the Diocese of Baker City until 1919, when he became secretary to Bishop Joseph Francis McGrath and chancellor of the diocese.

Bishop

On December 16, 1927, Kelly was appointed the third Bishop of Boise City, Idaho, by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on March 6, 1928 from Bishop McGrath, with Bishops Mathias Clement Lenihan and Charles Daniel White serving as co-consecrators.During a visit to Vatican City in 1934, Kelly was granted a private audience with Pope Pius XI, conducted in Italian.

Kelly served as Bishop of Boise for 28 years, until his death at age 66 in 1956. He died of a heart attack while preparing to celebrate an early Saturday morning Mass, and was succeeded by James Joseph Byrne of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Bishop Kelly High School in west Boise, opened in 1964, is named in his honor.