1997 Assembly Joint Resolution 70
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of William R. Kellett.
Whereas, William R. Kellett died on September 7, 1997, in Menasha, at the age of 98; and
Whereas, after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Mr. Kellett began working for the Kimberly-Clark Corporation in 1923 as a research scientist and rose through the ranks to become the president of the corporation in 1959, a position that he held until his retirement in 1964; and
Whereas, shortly after his retirement he was appointed by Governor Knowles as chair of the Committee on Improved Expenditure Management; and
Whereas, also in 1965 Governor Knowles, recognizing Mr. Kellett's considerable talents as an organizer and facilitator, appointed him to head the State Government Reorganization Committee, which, fittingly, soon became known as the Kellett Commission and which made recommendations that led to increasing state governments' effectiveness and efficiency; and
Whereas, Governor Knowles later appointed Mr. Kellett to head the Governor's Commission on Education, which prepared the way for the merger of the University of Wisconsin and the State University System; and
Whereas, Governor Lucey appointed him to head a commission on reapportionment; Governor Dreyfus appointed him to head a study of federal education block grants and Governor Earl appointed him to head the State Compensation Study Committee; and
Whereas, Mr. Kellett's extraordinary degree of participation in state government and his effect on that institution have not been equaled by any other private citizen in this state's history; and
Whereas, Mr. Kellett's bountiful contributions extended also to his native region, as he was an active member of the Friends of the Fox and of the Fox River Management Commission; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature salute the decades of invaluable public service that William Kellett provided to this state, hope that remembering him will inspire other private citizens to seek to emulate his devotion to Wisconsin government, express their sorrow at his death and extend their condolences to his family and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to Mr. Kellett's daughter, Kalen Koch, and to his son, William H. Kellett.
