Little Known Facts

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Dave has been a background extra on the TV shows Resurrection, Tyler Perry’s The Haves and Have Nots (bottom set of pictures above shown), The Gifted, Deputy, Ordinary Joe (2 episodes, picture below right), Monarch (picture below left), The Resident, Johnson, and Will Trent (2 episodes). and the films Blended (starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore), What Men Want (starring Taraji P. Henson and Tracy Morgan, upper set of pictures shown), Dear Evan Hanson (based on the Broadway play), and The Naked Gun (2025)

Dave has a credit on IMDb, as Dave A. Kelly, for an independent film, “Our Last Night”.  http://goo.gl/kAgWMm

Dave carried the Olympic torch as part of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Torch Relay.  He was selected based on his dedication to and involvement in community service.

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Dave had the pleasure and honor of being a guest on the ZuZu All Grown Up podcast. He got to talk about working with students, engaging them in community service, and the value of servant leadership.
 
ZuZu is the name of the little girl in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life who gives her father George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) rose petals that he puts in his pocket. Those petals are what let him know that he has returned to his real life after seeing what the world would have been like if he had never been born.
 
ZuZu was played by Karolyn Grimes who hosts the podcast with her partner Dr. Chris Brunell. Her famous line is “Teacher says, ‘Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.'” This was also what Clarence, the angel, told George. Watch a short clip of that line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKd_Tg7yzXk
 
You can see a video preview of the episode at https://www.zuzunetwork.com/davekelly
 
The full episode, audio only, can be heard at https://bit.ly/4bR2ufq Keep earning your wings every day!
 

Dave was a state champion story teller, musician, and singer as a high school student in Wisconsin.

Dave tied for the most athletic letters – eight – in his high school graduating class (three in Cross County, three in Track, and two in Basketball) and also received three activities letters.

He is the author of a children’s story, “George, the Drobble”.  https://goo.gl/qFqzlY

Dave twice participated as a stand-up comedian to invitation-only auditions in Memphis and Indianapolis for the original “Star Search” program hosted by Ed McMahon.

Dave was Chair of the Committee on Committees for the Oshkosh Student Association (student government).  Banner OSA

Dave worked as a professional server and trainer in pubs, restaurants, and a country club for over twenty years.

Dave began his career in the mortgage business as a bill collector.

The “Gonzo” in Dave “Gonzo” Kelly and “gonzospeaks.com” refers to a 1978 Ted Nugent album “Double Live Gonzo”.

Dave has an incredible brain for numbers and can add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly in his head.

Dave holds a trademark for his signature community service leadership development program, “Building Leaders Through Service®“.

Dave and his wife Dia met at a Georgia Kiwanis training conference.

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Dave’s family has worn six Kiwanis Family Lt. Governor pins: Dave for 1978-79 Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Key Club Division Three, 1979-80 Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Circle K Lakes Division, and 1994-95 Georgia Kiwanis Division One; his sister Laura for 1982-83 Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Key Club Division Three; wife Dia for 2004-05 Georgia Kiwanis Division One; and daughter Amanda, 2005-06 Georgia Key Club Division One.

Dave has appeared in theatrical productions of “Godspell”, “California Suite”, “A Community of Wayward Saints”, “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”, “The Madwoman of Chaillot”, “Bye, Bye Birdie”, and “L’il Abner”.

Dave's Penguins and Distinguished District Award Medallions and Distinguished Administrator Awards     Dave’s total of nine Distinguished District Administrator Awards is the most in the history of Circle K International, as is his string of nine consecutive such awards.

Dave’s combined total of 16 Distinguished Administrator and Distinguished District Awards is also the most in the history of Circle K International.

Dave has visited 48 different American states, three Canadian provinces, and 12 different countries.

In his lifetime, Dave has heard over 1,000 different speakers and has spoken before more than 100,000 people.

Dave received a music scholarship from his high school to study theatre.

Dave was a trumpet and French horn player in high school.customLogo

Dave received a standing ovation in high school for his solo performance during a swing choir presentation of Steve Martin’s “King Tut”. Here is what Dave’s high school music teacher, Stan Johnson, wrote Dave about that performance: ” I still remember when you jumped out of that oversized string bass case we painted yellow with Egyptian hieroglyphics and did the Steve Martin King Tut routine.”

Dave has twice appeared on the Muscular Dystrophy Association national telethon with Jerry Lewis. [See video of his second appearance with Jerry!]

Dave was a regular contributor to Atlanta radio station WGST 640 AM‘s Kim Peterson Show, as “Kimnac, the Magnificent”.

Dave has performed stand-up comedy on local Atlanta television.

Dave served on the leadership team for the men’s ministry, “Men of Mount Pisgah” at his church and helped create and lead a program called “Monday Night for Men”.

Dave grew up living in a 14′ x 70′ trailer in a mobile home park on an interstate highway outside of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Dave set a self-proclaimed world record by flying 7,764 miles within the continental United States in less than 24 hours on December 15-16, 2009. He called it “Gonzo’s Great Gold Quest”. He accomplished this by flying from Atlanta, GA to Los Angeles, CA, roundtrip, twice in 22 1/2 hours!


Dave wrote the dedication poem (“Dreams”) for his high school yearbook. Download “Dreams” (PDF format)

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“Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

Custom Programs

Dave can customize programs from 1/2 day to a full weekend. His programs are also great for Parent/Family Weekends, Staff Development Days, and Faculty and Advisor Training and Encouragement.