Thomas Henry Kelly, Jr.

Thomas Henry Kelly, Jr.

May 15, 1927 – October 2, 2026

Thomas Henry Kelly, Jr., beloved father, grandfather, veteran, forester and celebrated author, passed away on October 2, 2026, at the age of 99. Widely known as the “Poet Laureate of the Turkey Woods,” Tom Kelly lived an extraordinary life marked by service to his country, a distinguished career in forestry, a lifelong passion for the outdoors and an enduring contribution to American sporting literature.

Born on May 15, 1927, in Mobile, Alabama, to Thomas Henry Kelly and Marie Pratt Kelly, Tom was the oldest of three children. Exceptionally bright and curious from an early age, he skipped kindergarten, entered first grade at four and received his first library card that same year. He became a voracious reader, developing a lifelong appreciation for literature, history and the written word.

Following his graduation from McGill Institute in Mobile, Tom enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17, against the wishes of his mother. During World War II, he served as a tail gunner aboard an SBD Dauntless dive bomber. Following the war, he attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University, initially studying engineering before switching to forestry, a field that allowed him to combine his studies with his love of the outdoors. He continued his military career in the United States Army and Alabama National Guard, ultimately retiring with the rank of Colonel after 30 years of service.

A gifted athlete, Tom excelled in football, track, wrestling and, most notably, baseball. He played minor league baseball and was recruited by the St. Louis Browns, the franchise that later became the Baltimore Orioles.

Tom began his professional career with Algier Sullivan Lumber Company in Century, Florida, where he met Helen Holder Mosley, who invited the young newcomer in town to her birthday party. The two married on January 1, 1952, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where Tom was serving as an Army Captain. They shared 63 years of marriage before Helen's passing.

Tom went on to enjoy a distinguished career with Scott Paper Company, where he worked for 40 years and became a widely respected authority in the timber industry. Among his professional accomplishments was the development of an innovative wood procurement and transportation system utilizing helicopters and barges along the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers. A respected leader and mentor, he understood the importance of taking care of the people on the front lines, earning the admiration and loyalty of those whom he affectionately called “the troops”.

Tom was a man of many talents. In addition to being an accomplished athlete, soldier and business leader, he was a gifted craftsman who sculpted and built beautiful furniture. Yet he became best known for his writing about wild turkeys and the pursuit of the “remarkable bird,” as he called it, giving voice to the thoughts, emotions and experiences of those who sharedhis passion.

Introduced to hunting at an early age by family members and friends, he developed a lifelong fascination with the wild turkey, hunting the bird through an era when both turkeys and turkey hunters were relatively scarce. Remarkably, he harvested his last turkey just three weeks shy of his 96th birthday.

In 1973, Tom published Tenth Legion, a book that would become one of the most influential works in turkey hunting literature. Often referred to as the “Bible of Turkey Hunting,” it has remained continuously in print for more than five decades, inspiring generations of hunters and creating a devoted community of readers who count themselves as “members of the Tenth Legion”. Over his lifetime, Tom authored 30 books, earning a reputation for his distinctive storytelling, insightful observations into human and turkey behavior, irreverent humor and remarkable command of the English language. He also shared his knowledge and passion for the sport as the lead instructor of the Wild Turkey Hunting School at Westervelt Lodge for three decades. In recognition of his contributions to the sport and its community, a local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation bears his name. His legacy is further honored through an endowed scholarship at Auburn University's College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment.

Those who knew him will remember his kind heart, generous spirit, fierce patriotism, remarkable intellect, wicked sense of humor and famously sharp tongue. He was a man of strong convictions who spoke his mind freely, cared deeply for others and inspired tremendous loyalty among his friends and colleagues.

In his later years, when he could no longer venture into the turkey woods, Tom continued to take great pleasure in hearing from the countless readers whose lives he had touched. Their letters, emails, telephone calls and expressions of friendship meant a great deal to him and his family.

Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Helen Holder Mosley Kelly; his parents, Thomas Henry Kelly and Marie Pratt Kelly; his brother, Patrick Wheeler Kelly; and his sister, Rita Kelly Nelson.

He is survived by his daughter, Laura Kelly Bates, and her husband, Morris; his grandchildren, John Morris Bates III and Laura Keelin Bates; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at the Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church in Spanish Fort Alabama. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Following the service, a burial will take place at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort, situated at 34904 AL-225 in Spanish Fort, Alabama. The interment, with military honors, will begin at 1:00 p.m. Following the graveside service at 2pm, there will be a reception for friends and family at the Fairhope Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment to further research on turkeys or Fisher House Foundation in support of veterans and their families.

Tom Kelly leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service, leadership, friendship and storytelling. His words will continue to entertain, inspire and connect generations of readers, and his memory will live on among his family, friends and the countless members of the Tenth Legion.

Auburn College of Forestry, Wildlife & Environment  

Auburn College of Forestry, Wildlife & Environment

Fisher House