Russell V. Kelley Jr., a Morgan State biology professor who founded science justice, dies

Russell V. Kelley Jr., a Morgan State University biology professor who created a science fair for high school students, died of a heart attack July 29 at Roland Park Place. He was 89 years old.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, he was the son of Russell V. Kelley Sr. and Fannie Armfield. He attended Norfolk Public Schools and was a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School. He received a degree in biology from Virginia State College, a master’s degree from New York University and a doctorate from Purdue University. He was a Ford Foundation Fellow.

Dr. Kelley also studied at Union College, where he received a fellowship from General Electric Co. chemistry. He also studied at Pace University and held a National Science Foundation fellowship in ecology at Stanford University.

After teaching in the Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and Plainview, New York school systems, he joined the Morgan State branch in 1966. He taught biology and was chairman of science education, along with the biology department. He was also the assistant vice president for education.

“He was like a Pied Piper for the youth of this area,” said Reverend Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway Sr., former pastor of Union Baptist Church. “He ran our volunteer cyber center to teach computer skills, and along the way, gave them history and ethics. He brought his Morgan students to help.”

Dr. Kelley was a congregational believer, wearing distinctive bows, Reverend Dr. Hathaway recalled. “The service was his service. He did it from the heart,” he said.

“He was the epitome of a perfect teacher. As a professor, he was not limited to the classroom. He treated everyone as worthy of his experience and expertise. Life was and his laboratory,” said the pastor.

Pastor Dr. Hathaway also said: “Now I can see him taking about 100 young people to a baseball game.” And as a teacher, he always interacted with them.

Dr. Kelley and his wife had been members of the Lutheran and Disciples of Christ congregations.

He was a co-founder of a science fair at Morgan State University to encourage high school students, especially those who live in the city, to pursue the profession.

He was also Maryland’s chairman of the National Achievement Program in Mathematics, Science and Engineering and a member of the Baltimore Black/Jewish Forum. He also served as a member of the Maryland College Savings Plan and on the Maryland Commission on Higher Education.

Dr. Kelley was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and its local chapter of Delta Lambda. For many years, he ran the annual tennis tournament held at Druid Hill Park.

In a 1997 Sun article, he recalled his years at Druid Hill Park and how it was a popular gathering place for Black families.

He did not agree with the proposal to eliminate cars by creating a shuttle between Mondawmin Mall and the park, he said in the article, explaining that it was a threat to the Sunday tradition of riding in the park in your car. , a happy occasion. especially young Black people.

Environmentalists wanted to ban parking on grass because it prevents water from flowing through tree roots.

“When you get an influx of young people on Sundays, this becomes a problem,” Dr. Kelley said in the article, adding that visitors to the Maryland Zoo, many of whom are white, tend to park on the grass.

He was married for 66 years to Sen. The former Delores G. Kelley.

“Russell was quiet, competent and steady. He did not want any publicity. He let his wife, Delores, watch. He was the invisible man,” said Larry Gibson, a professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 16 at Morgan State University’s Murphy Fine Arts Center.

Survivors include his wife and two sons, Russell V. Kelley III, of Gaithersburg, and Dr. Brian T. Kelley, of San Antonio; three sisters, Lorraine Bullock, Lillian K. Pierce and Denise Vice, all of the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area; a brother, Darryl Kelley, of Fort Washington; and three granddaughters. A daughter, Norma Kelley-Johnson, died in 2014.