When he’s not in the operating room, pediatric surgeon Dr. Pete Kelley can most likely be found on or near the Signal Mountain High School athletic facilities, which he voluntarily helps maintain and improve.
Pediatric surgeon Dr. Pete Kelley volunteers his time to help improve SMHS athletic facilities at least 12 hours per week year-round.“My wife likes to joke that it’s my second job,” said Kelley, who spends approximately 12-16 hours every week year-round working on the fields.
Maintaining the football field is a community effort, said Kelley, who is assisted by Steve Shirk in fertilizing the fields and borrows specialized equipment from Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club Superintendent Pat Rose to keep the field’s Bermuda turf in tip-top shape.
“I look at the football field as the great stage for the football team to perform,” said Kelley. “It’s important to have a proper stage on which to perform, so that’s why I take care of the field.”
He is also one of many parent volunteers who have helped make bathroom facilities at the stadium a near-reality this season. Kelley said he probably spent an additional 40 hours per week at the school this summer as the bathroom facilities were being constructed.