Clarence M. Kelley

Clarence Marion Kelley (October 24, 1911 – August 5, 1997) was an American law enforcement officer. He served as the Chief of the Kansas City Police Department in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1961 to 1973, and as the second director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1973 to 1978.

Early life and education Clarence Kelley was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 24, 1911. He attended Northeast High School, where he was nicknamed "Chief" and held a 0.300 baseball batting average. The Kansas City Police department would eulogize him as having been "destined to enter law enforcement". Kelley became the Chief of the Kansas City Police Department in Kansas City, Missouri, serving from 1961 to 1973. He installed a computer system to check driver's license plates. The following year he was named to the Presidential Advisory Committee, and served on both the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals and on the FBI National Academy Review Committee from 1972 to 1973. The United States Senate confirmed the nomination June 27 and he was sworn in on July 9. Kelley was the first Director of the FBI to be appointed through the nomination and confirmation process; furthermore, he was only the second non-acting director of the FBI. During his time as Director, Kelley eliminated the embezzlement practices that had been prevalent in the administrative division under J. Edgar Hoover's directorship through his cooperation with a Justice Department investigation. Kelley also reopened relations with other intelligence agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency which had nearly been shut down by Hoover in his last years as director.

Kelley helped the FBI transition from its 40 plus years of being dominated by a single director, J. Edgar Hoover, by attempting to improve its public image. At the same time, he tried not to antagonize FBI agents who had been loyal to Hoover.

Personal life and death Kelley was an elder of the Disciples of Christ. A year after she died in 1975, he married a former Catholic nun previously known as Sister Bernadine, née Shirley Dyckes. His remains were later buried at Mount Washington Cemetery in Independence, Missouri.