A native of Topeka, Tom Kelly received a bachelor's degree and a law degree from Washburn University. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II and was appointed special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on March 15, 1948. He spent twenty eight years with the FBI, receiving assignments in the Philadelphia, Newark and Kansas City Divisions. From 1959, until his retirement from the FBI in 1976, he served in FBI resident agencies at Hutchinson and Topeka, Kansas. Following FBI retirement he served as executive director for the Governor's Committee on Criminal Administration until he was appointed KBI director in January, 1979, by Attorney General Robert Stephan. He served in that capacity until June 30, 1987. Today Director Kelly enjoys retirement in Topeka, his hometown.