At the heart of this summer’s 15th annual Misselwood Concours d’Elegance, Endicott College presented its very first Distinguished Patron Award. The honor was bestowed on longtime supporter Brian Kelly, President of the Kelly Automotive Group, in recognition of his dedicated support for the show and his deep roots in the community.
The Distinguished Patron Award acknowledges individuals whose values mirror the excellence of the Misselwood Concours and Endicott, celebrating dedication to the automotive world, community engagement, and a legacy built on family and passion.
The word legacy fits Kelly very well, as it happens. He has built an automobile empire that began when he was 13, working on his father’s used-car lot, and now comprises nine franchises that employ more than 400 people.
Kelly’s connection to the College is more than honorary. Growing up near Endicott, he has been familiar with the College since he was a child—even recalling attending a dance or two back when it was a women’s college—and later in life became close to the late former Endicott President Dr. Richard E. Wylie. Kelly even sold his former waterfront home to the College, which is now used as the president’s residence. Over the years, Kelly has hired several students and graduates, extending his support into the lives of individual Gulls.
This lifelong relationship with the institution became stronger with the formation of the Concours d’Elegance car show at Misselwood. As a car aficionado, Kelly was interested in the show right away, attending even when he didn’t have cars registered to participate.
As is fitting for the first Distinguished Patron, Kelly believes the Misselwood Concours is one of the better shows celebrating the history of car ownership.
“Being on the ocean makes Misselwood the best venue,” Kelly said. “The show is impressive. You can see there is new life in the hobby and new blood that is taking it to the next level.”
Though Kelly has been an enthusiast at Concours for many years, he only began expanding his car collection in 2017. Bringing dreams to life, he went out and bought every car he wished he had purchased 30 years ago. Once as large as 60 cars, Kelly has pared his collection down to about 18 vehicles and is focusing more on keeping the most high-end and prized automobiles.
Despite the challenges of maintenance and the weather and destination limitations, Kelly insists on keeping every car in his collection ready for a spin.
“Every car I have is drivable. When I buy one, I go right through it to make sure it’s 100%,” he said. “I want the cigarette lighters to work, and the spare tires to be in the trunk.”
Kelly brought two of these beloved cars to the Concours this year, a 1972 Datsun 240Z and a special racing edition 1965 Buick Riviera.
Expanding his inspiring connection to Endicott, Kelly recently made a sizeable donation to the Inspire Scholarship, which supports students who might otherwise lack the means to pursue higher education.
As someone who didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, Kelly recognizes the importance of making it possible for others.
“If a young person wants to go to school, get an education, have a better life, and they don’t have the resources but are willing to put in the time and effort, I want to help them out,” he shared.
After a life spent building the Kelly Automotive Group (the company turned 60 this October), Kelly now focuses on family and the independence that comes with owning your own business. His siblings Cathy and Neil have worked with him for almost 50 years; one of Kelly’s sons runs the Jeep Chrysler dealership, another runs Volkswagen, and a son-in-law is a leader in the parent organization. It’s a true family enterprise.
“I also have three grandkids in college right now, and they all work in the stores during summer and vacations,” he said. “So, I get to go around to the dealerships and I actually see family, which is great. It's kind of nice to watch your 17-year-old grandson vacuuming a car while another one’s giving people a ride home.”
As the Misselwood Concours continues to flourish, Kelly’s distinguished role in its story is secure. His commitment to car culture, community, and philanthropy serves as a reminder to both the College and local car enthusiasts that tradition runs best on passion, generosity, and connection.