Maverick County Water Control & Improvement District No. 1 Board approves to name Hydroelectric Power Plant in honor of former Board President Travis D. Kelly

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

The Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (MCWCID No. 1) Board of Directors unanimously approved to name the District’s hydroelectric power plant in honor of former Board President Travis D. Kelly at their Tuesday, June 14, 2016, Board meeting.

Board President Javier Mancha called the agenda item for discussion and advised the Board that former Board President Travis D. Kelly had been instrumental in the acquisition of the hydroelectric water plant by the MCWCID No. 1 and his leadership as a Board member had been outstanding during his 12 year tenure with many significant positive contributions made by him to the District.  Kelly recommended to the MCWCID No. 1 Board to purchase the hydroelectric power plant and later led the District in paying off the purchase loan early, saving millions of dollars in interest payments.  He also recommended the District attain Renewable Energy Credits for the electricity generated by the hydroelectric power plant.  He also led the District in repairing the water canal after the July 3, 2012 break.  He and the District employees had the water canal back in operation after 25 days instead of six months estimated by engineers. Kelly also led the District in successful negotiations with Union Pacific on certain easements and realignment of certain water laterals, saving over two million dollars to the District water users.  Board President Mancha recommended that the District’s hydroelectric power plant should be named in honor of Kelly.

Board Secretary-Treasurer Yolanda Mauricio concurred with Mancha and made a motion to name the District’s hydroelectric power plant in honor of former Board President Travis D. Kelly due to his dedicated and loyal service to the members of the MCWCID No. 1 as a 12 year Board member.  Board member Juan Manuel Garcia, Jr. seconded the motion.  After discussion, Board President Javier Mancha called the motion for a vote and the Board approved unanimaously.  Board Vice-President Gabriel Garcia and Board member Beyer Junfin joined Yolanda Mauricio, Juan Manuel Garcia, Jr., and Javier Mancha in naming the District’s hydroelectric power plant in honor of former Board President Travis D. Kelly.

The Board authorized MCWCID No. 1 General Manager Cynthia Martinez to organize a dedication ceremony within the next 30 days for the hydroelectric power plant in honor of Kelly.

Travis D. Kelly was born in Terry County, Texas and has been a resident of Maverick County since 1934. Kelly is the middle child of the late E.R. Kelly and his lovely wife, Ethel Kelly.  Kelly had an older brother, Carlton, and a younger sister, Ernestine Kelly.  He attended elementary school at the Quemado Public School, now Kirchner Elementary School, and graduated from Eagle Pass High Scho0l in 1949. He enrolled at Kilgore Junior College, but joined the U.S. Army in 1951 during the Korean War.  He rose to Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany and honorably discharged in 1953.

Kelly enjoys farming and ranching since a young child in Quemado during the 1930s.  He worked as a Maverick County Deputy Sheriff for 30 years under five different Sheriff’s, including Sheriff Stevenson, Annie Stevenson, Pete Rossi, J.A. “Bean” Salinas, and Tom Bowles.  He served as a court bailiff, transported inmates to and from detention centers, and provided security in Quemado Valley.  Kelly also was a strong supporter of the youth of Maverick County through the Maverick County Junior Livestock Show and Sale, serving as Board President and Show Ring Spotter during the annual auction sale.  He loved working with the Maverick County 4-H and FFA members for many years.

Travis D. Kelly is married to Olivia Sanchez for 28 years.  Kelly had two children born from his first marriage, a son, Terry, deceased, and a daughter, Cathy.

A dedication ceremony will be announced by the MCWCID No. 1 in the near future.

The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates Travis D. Kelly on having the MCWCID No. 1 hydroelectric power plant dedicated in his honor and wishes him the best in his endeavors.