The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame will see a new inductee this year, originating from right here in South County: sports broadcaster Kevin Kelly, who graduated from Bayless High School in 1974.

Kelly will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Feb. 1 during an event at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Missouri. His name will join the 19 other members of the hall’s Class of 2026 — a list that includes members of the sports world such as Matt Gifford, a Cardinals baseball executive, and Dustin Colquitt, who played 15 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.

But Kelly’s recognition comes from his time spent on air. Kelly is in his 48th year of broadcasting sports in Jefferson City, where he has covered the Jefferson City Jays, Helias Catholic Crusaders, Blair Oaks Falcons and Capital City Cavaliers.

Before his career officially started, during his time at Bayless, Kelly’s love for sports manifested in his involvement on the school’s baseball team. Following graduation, he was off to Columbia, Missouri, where he pursued a degree from the Missouri School of Journalism. His time there launched him into his sports broadcasting career.

According to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, he has covered 23 MSHSAA state championship football games and has done play-by-play announcing from 25 Show-Me Showdowns.

“Overall, he has broadcast more than 2,200 sporting events in the Jefferson City area, interviewing big names but also capturing the essence of sports – high school coaches and athletes,” stated a release by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. 

This induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame isn’t the only award that Kelly has received during his long career. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri State High School Activities Association, and he was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.