Alyssa McMurtry and Elena Durnbaugh
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By John Lindstrom
Publisher
Posted: June 22, 2015 2:14 PM
On a sparkling, warm June Saturday, former Attorney General Frank Kelley celebrated his 90th birthday with a big crowd of some of the state’s most renowned legal officials from the 1970s to 1990s.
Mr. Kelley actually turned 90 on December 31st last, but holding a party along the shore of Lake Lansing may have been a mite frosty on that day.
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Former Attorney General Frank Kelley speaking at his 90th birthday celebration. |
Decked out in a casual blazer, Mr. Kelley greeted, among others, former Governor James Blanchard (once an assistant AG in his office before he ran for Congress), former Supreme Court Justice Michael Cavanagh. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan President Dan Loepp (who had a more humble professional beginning under Mr. Kelley), former Circuit Judge Lawrence Glazer (who also wrote a well-received biography of former Governor John Swainson) and a gaggle of old reporters who were more interested in the bar. The liquid kind of bar, not the legal kind.
In fact, more than 50 people attended, most of whom had worked for Mr. Kelley at one time or another.
And it wasn’t all Democrats at the party either. For example, Richard McLellan attended and immediately handed his iPhone to a reporter to get a picture of him and Mr. Kelley, suitable for posting on Facebook.
Former Governor William Milliken was also invited, but couldn’t attend. He spoke with Mr. Kelley by phone, and Mr. Kelley praised him to the crowd.
Jack Lessenberry, the Metro Times and Michigan Radio commentator, emceed the event. He has co-authored Mr. Kelley’s autobiography (which will be available this autumn), and assured the crowd the he had labored mightily to ensure there was some truth in the book.
Introducing Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Lessenberry said not only was Mr. Kelley the former governor’s father, he was Mr. Blanchard’s mother as well.
“I’ve been outed,” Mr. Blanchard joked.
Mr. Kelley said he finally was able to give a speech without worrying about getting a vote.
And Mr. Kelley said he was grateful, and had tried to spend his life being grateful.
If everyone, he said, got up in the morning, looked in the mirror and said three things they were grateful for, it would change their lives.
