JASPER, Tenn. -- With all the smiles that accompany a small-town Christmas parade, the biggest smile in last Saturday's annual procession in Jasper had to come from grand marshal Zach Kelly.
Kelly, who served as Jasper's city attorney for nearly 40 years, suffered a massive stroke in February and has had months of therapy.
City administrators decided to make him this year's grand marshal to honor his years of service to the town.
"Zach was instrumental in many of the vital decisions that the [Jasper] Board of Mayor and Aldermen made, and he has helped me through many, many difficult situations," Mayor Billy Simpson said. "He is an invaluable member of this community, and it was just wonderful to see him leading that parade."
Kelly's wife, Elizabeth, said his recovery has been a slow process, but it would have been impossible without the support of the Jasper community.
"We have just been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support and prayers from so many, many people who obviously have such affection for Zach," she said.
"We are both deeply touched that the town has honored him as grand marshal, even though we are not sure he is old enough for that honor."
Kelly graduated from Marion County High School in 1965 and earned a degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee in 1969 and a law degree in 1973. He returned to Jasper in 1974 and has practiced law there ever since.
One of the things Kelly is known for around Jasper is having tons of friends, Simpson said.
"Everybody loves Zach," he said. "He has always been good to everyone and treated them fairly."
"I don't think I can count on one or two fingers the people [Zach] doesn't like," Elizabeth said. "He can usually find something he likes even about those few."
The stroke was devastating, Elizabeth said, but "Zach is blessed with a positive attitude and a superb sense of humor" that have been critical to his recovery.
"We have determined that this is the path we are on," she said. "This is not the way we anticipated beginning retirement, but this is the way it is. So, we are going to enjoy this time."
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.