Colby Eagles Alumni Association
Kelley Calhoon Van Horn, 1976
Copyright Colby Eagles Alumni Association @ 2014
Nominated by her children, Amanda, Melanie, and Danielle
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If the early bird catches the worm, Kelley (Calhoon) Van Horn would have all the worms! Kelley, who considers sleeping until 5:30 a.m. to be "sleeping in", has always been a go-getter. After graduating from Colby High School in 1976 with straight A's, she went on to complete her Bachelor's Degree in Accounting at the University of Kansas, finishing in just three years. After graduating, Kelley raised three young girls as she and her husband, fellow Colby High School graduate, Thurston Van Horn ('75), made a number of cross-country moves throughout the U.S. for Thurston's military career as an Army Ranger in the 2nd Ranger Battalion. After spending a short time at an accounting firm, Kelley decided to put her career on hold to selflessly focus on being Super Mom. Kelley never does any job half-heartedly, though. That's not her style. When she's in, she's all in. In addition to the countless hours she spent shuttling her daughters to school and practices, making an endless number of lunches for her girls and Thurston, she also managed to organize and run several state-wide high school swim meets. Although profoundly dedicated to her children, Kelley was not content to let her career goals out of sight - studying for and passing the CPA exam in her first attempt while her children were still young. In addition to the numerous schedules and tasks Kelley managed to juggle, she also acted as the heart of her family. She was and still is the glue - healer of wounds, the cheerleader, and the unbendable backbone that supports her family through the toughest times. When Kelley's youngest child was in elementary school, she returned to work and eventually joined a small accounting firm, located in a ramshackle office with overflowing file cabinets and flimsy cublcles. At the time, the firm had only two clients and a handful of employees. Over the next nineteen years at the firm, Kelley implemented practices and procedures to help the company grow and develop into a reputable firm in the very challenging and niche field of financial administration for government contractors. The firm now serves of thirty-five clients, and Kelley, who once occupied one of those modest cubicles, now occupies a bright corner office in a brand new building and leads multiple teams in her role as Managing Senior Accountant. Kelley, although often working 60+ hours a week and still starting her day before the sun, hasn't forgotten her dedication to family, always willing to take calls from her now-adult daughters when they need help or simply a sympathetic ear. She will also make any excuse to spend time witih her grandchildren, even under the pressure of hectic work deadlines. Kelley's never-give-up attitude and loving support has instired her daughters, too - leading them to excel in their roles as wives, mothers, and professionals, and supporting them in their careers as a marketing executive, a software engineer, and a lawyer. Kelley has truly led a life of quiet inspiration and leadership, and we can't wait to see what the future has in store (hopefully, after 7 a.m.).
