Kelly speaks about life experiences

Born in Great Falls, Mont., in 1958, George Kelly graduated from Charles M. Russell high school - whose teams were known as the Rustlers - in 1977. In the same year, he came to Thermopolis and has been here ever since.

But about age 12, Kelly started doing drugs and alcohol. As to why he started, Kelly said it wasn't peer pressure but more he "just wanted to see what's happening . . . I did pretty much every drug there was."

Since March 22 of 1999, he noted, he's been clean and sober. "I gave them both up at the same time," he said of the drugs and alcohol. He's also been off cigarettes for 11 years, and credits his success to counseling services and the support of his friends and family.

"I did some bad things," Kelly recalled of his drug and alcohol experience. "I got three DUI's and a disturbing the peace. I wasn't too enthused when I was on drugs and alcohol, let's put it that way, because it didn't do nothing for me except get me in trouble." One of the lasting negative impacts, he noted, is the anger he made people feel toward him.

He recommends if people need help there are counseling services available, but "I'm not telling anybody what they can and can't do about their drug and alcohol problem because it's none of my business, but I'm just hoping they get some help."

He further added if people want someone to visit with about drug- and alcohol-related issues, they can certainly stop and visit with him if they see him out and about. Kelly frequents the Hot Springs County Senior Center.

As for his coming to and time in Thermopolis, Kelly said he's had a good time and what brought him here was family. The water also is beneficial, he noted, and "I'm glad to be a Thermopolis resident."

This is one of a series of stories that have ran in the IR featuring visitors of the Hot Springs County Senior Citizens Center.