While there have been other great men that made history here in the Mancos Valley, I am partial to Ira Emmer Kelly because I knew him personally.
Last week I mentioned that Ira played basketball during his high school years. He also applied himself to his schooling and became the salutatorian when he graduated in 1913. He worked for his father and for the McGalliard and Stevens Cattle Co. until 1917when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After the completion of his training at Kelly field in San Antonio, he was assigned to the 351st Aerial Squadron and served his time during World War I in France. Ira left the military in 1919 as a master sergeant.
Iras wife, Mary Cooper, was one of the first women to enlist in the Navy and served as a Yeomanette during World War I. She married Ira in 1921 and moved with him to the ranch they continually improved upon. She worked with the American Legion Auxiliary during the Depression of the 1930s providing hot lunches for school children. She participated in several organizations in the Valley but the main thrust of her life was participating in the love of her life, the Methodist Church.
In 1922, Ira and Mary had their only child, Jean. During World War II she married Clay Bader. They served in various organizations before Clay passed away in August 2012 due to the ravages of bone cancer.
Ira became a member of the Mancos Masonic Lodge in 1919 and was master of the Lodge in 1925. He received his 50 year pin in 1969.
In 1938 Ira became a member of the Mancos Re-6 school board and served for eleven years, most of them as president of the board.
Ira served as president of the Mancos cattlemens Association, president of the Southwestern Livestock Association and was a member of the Colorado Cattlemens Association. He was chairman of the Mancos Water Conservancy District from its beginning until 1969. In 1936 he and others formulated a plan to have a Jackson Gulch Reservoir. He worked with determination until completion of the project.
In 1940 Ira was elected as the Montezuma County Commissioner from the Mancos District. He served for eight years. He was also a member of the American Legion Post for 49 years and served for a number of years on the U.S. Forest Service Advisory Board.
In 1960, Ira retired from the ranch and he and Mary moved to town. They enjoyed the peace and comfort of town until Mary passed away in January 1969. Ira followed her in July 1972.