Robert E. Kelley

Robert E. Kelley

Coralville

Robert E. Kelley, 87, of Coralville, Iowa died on January 4, 2026, at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Professor Kelley is survived by his former wife, Judith, and by his current wife, Dixie Saylor, his sons Mark (Irene) of San Diego, Calif. (and their sons Donovan, Justin, and Christopher), Brian (Paulette) of Scottsdale, Ariz., and David of New York City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Vivian, and by his sisters, Patricia and Ellen Ann.

Bob attended St. Bede Academy in Peru, Ill., where he played basketball and was inducted into the St. Bede Hall of Fame. After that he attended Creighton University on a basketball scholarship, graduating in 1960. One of his teammates at Creighton was the future Globetrotter and baseball Hall of Famer, Bob Gibson.

Bob met his first wife, Judy, at Creighton. While in Omaha, he was a young TV director when he met and introduced John F. Kennedy during his presidential campaign. Initially, Bob planned a career in TV, but when one of his professors encouraged him to attend grad school, he headed for Indiana.

Bob earned his Ph.D at Indiana University, after which he and Judy moved to Iowa City and raised their three sons. During his teaching career at the University of Iowa, he was appointed to the Board in Control of Athletics. He served two terms on the Board from 1972-1978 and 1989-1995. Soon after his appointment, he was named Chair of the Board. Some people wondered why an English professor would hold that position-until they discovered that Bob was a walking encyclopedia of sports knowledge.

He worked closely with Bump Elliot, Iowa’s former Athletic Director, for many years. He also worked with former Women’s Athletic Director, Christine Grant, and was an advocate for women’s sports.

Bob took a sabbatical in France during his tenure at Iowa and directed numerous dissertations. In addition to his courses in Classical and Biblical literature and 18th century literature, he taught a class on baseball fiction. Some students assumed it would be an easy course because it dealt with baseball; however, when Professor Kelley started the semester with studies of the Greek Olympics, they realized their mistake.

Bob met Dixie at the University of Iowa where she also taught in the English Department. For the past 35 years, they have lived a busy and happy life in Iowa City, and, more recently, in Coralville. Dixie’s sons, Tim of Green Valley, Ariz., and Justin of Lake City, Fla., were very fond of Bob, and the Saylor grandchildren will miss their “Papa Bob.”

Bob enriched the lives of many friends and colleagues. He was a good man who loved his family, and they loved him right back.

For those who wish to honor Bob: In lieu of flowers, please remember him through a donation to Safe Haven of Iowa County in South Amana, his favorite animal shelter.

Online condolences may be left for the family at cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.