By Tony Kelly
James Anthony (Jim) Kelly was born in DesMoines, Iowa, on July 3, 1900. Even in his early schooldays he showed an inclination and a talent for drawing. Jim was encouraged by the example of an uncle, Carol Kelly, who was a successful portrait painter in Paris. With part-time work and some modest help from his family, Jim went to Chicago to attend the school of the Chicago Art Institute. Upon his return to Davenport he became art director of a nationally known advertising agency with its headquarters in Davenport. With the agency's owner, LW Ramsey as writer, and Jim as illustrator, the two traveled widely in Mexico to produce a book,called “Time Out For Adventure” that won that country's annual tourism award. Following a brief sojourn working in Chicago, Kelly moved on to New York City. By then he had married Angela had a four-year-old son, Tony. Click here to continue.