Lanita Kelley (1894 - 1973)

Lanita Kelley’s biography is built and maintained by people like you. Create an online profile of Lanita so that her life is remembered forever. If any factual information is incorrect, please edit Lanita’s biography.

Pictures really do say a thousand words. Add photos of Lanita during various points of her life.

1894 - In the year that Lanita Kelley was born, on April 21st, a coal miners' strike closed mines throughout the central United States. The Panic of 1893, and the resulting depression, hit coal miners hard and the miners only struck for 8 weeks - they couldn't afford to live without their wages any longer.

1924 - When she was 30 years old, in May, wealthy college students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb kidnapped and killed 14 year old Robert Franks "in the interest of science". Leopold and Loeb thought that they were intellectually superior and that they could commit the perfect crime and not be caught. They were brought in for questioning within 8 days and quickly confessed. Clarence Darrow was hired as their defense lawyer, getting them life imprisonment instead of a death sentence. Loeb was eventually killed in prison - Leopold was released after 33 years, dying of a heart attack at age 66.

1954 - She was 60 years old when from April 22 through June 17th, the Army v. McCarthy hearings were held. The U.S. Army accused Roy Cohn (chief counsel to Senator McCarthy and later trusted mentor of Donald Trump) of blackmail. McCarthy and Cohn accused the U.S. Army of harboring communists. The Army allegations were found to be true. The U.S. Senate later censured McCarthy.

1956 - By the time she was 62 years old, this was the year that the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, became an international sensation. He began the year as a regional favorite and ended the year with 17 recordings having been on the Billboard’s Top 100 singles chart, 11 TV appearances, and a movie. Elvis scandalized adults and thrilled teens.

1973 - In the year of Lanita Kelley's passing, on August 15th, amidst rising calls for the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, Congress imposed an end to the bombing of Cambodia.

Who was Lanita’s parents? Did she get married and did they have children? Share Lanita’s family tree to share her legacy and genealogy pedigree.

What do you remember about Lanita Kelley? Share your memories of special moments and stories you have heard about her. Or just leave a comment to show the world that Lanita is remembered.