Joey Kelly, McIntosh Class of 2013, varsity wrestler and team captain, was awarded the first Judge Tarey B. Schell Scholarship last month. Present at the ceremony were his parents, guidance counselor Sonya Tucker, Judge Schell’s wife, Priscilla Schell, daughter Lauren Schell-Bozone, and Matthew Bozone, his oldest grandchild.
The $500 scholarship, established this year by his family, is in memory of Judge Tarey B. Schell.
It is based on character and will be awarded annually to a McIntosh High School graduate who was a member of the wrestling team.
Both Andy Smith, McIntosh wrestling coach, and McIntosh athletic director Jason Byars praised Kelly for his sense of responsibility, positive attitude and integrity, always doing what is right even when no one is watching.
The scholarship certificate was designed by Judge Schell’s daughter, Lauren Schell- Bozone, a McIntosh graphic design teacher and Career & Technology Department Chair. The award states:
“The Judge Tarey B. Schell scholarship is awarded to Joseph Kelly, a McIntosh High school student athlete who shares many of the qualities of character as Judge Schell. Through wins and losses, ups and downs, Joey’s steadfastness, perseverance, loyalty and commitment to the wrestling team are remarkable and more than meet the criteria for this scholarship.”
Kelly’s skills as a wrestler are also remarkable. This year he received the Captain’s Award, Four Year Varsity Award, State Qualifier Award, Senior Athletic Award and Team MVP Award. Heplans to attend Mississippi State University and study agricultural law.
A love of wrestling and dedication to the sport is a common thread in the lives of Judge Schell and Kelly. Schell discovered wrestling when he was a cadet at West Point. He wrestled all four years he attended West Point, and it was a sport in which he excelled. His grandson, Matthew Bozone, Class of 2007,wrestled for McIntosh, and Judge Schell was an enthusiastic supporter of the McIntosh wrestling team.
Judge Schell was born in Rugby, N.D., a small town surrounded by large farms. His grandfather was a German immigrant and homesteader.
Hard work was a fact of life. Throughout Judge Schell’s life, his unwavering commitment to the “task at hand” and perseverance paid off. One of his favorite expressions was “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
Judge Schell graduated from West Point in 1961, served his country faithfully for 26 years including a tour in Vietnam, received a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, and taught English to West Point cadets. He entered law school after retiring from the Army, received a law degree at age 50 from Georgia State University, practiced law and ultimately became the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge for Fayette, Spaulding, Pike and Upson counties, all while rearing a family and being an active member of Holy Trinity Church.. At the time of his death in 2011, he was acting Judge of the newly created Drug Court for Fayette and Spaulding counties.
