Terrance “TK” Kelly was born on April 23, 1986 in Richmond, California. Growing up TK played sports for various Richmond youth programs. He was a multi-sport athlete of football, baseball and basketball. While TK was more than passionate about sports, TK’s grandmother Bevelyn was adamant about TK’s education coming first. TK’s family worked incredibly hard to put him through school at St.David’s, a private school in the Richmond Hills. Upon graduating 8th grade from St.David’s, TK went on to continue his education at De La Salle High School. Still a multi-sport athlete in his freshman year, it wasn’t until his Junior year that he decided to focus solely on football, Earning a Varsity starting position as a Linebacker and tight-end making him a double threat.

 

TK embodied what it meant to love a sport; he studied every position as if it were his own, and would play the role needed to ensure the success of the team. At the start of his senior year and season, De La Salle was expected to lose for the first time since 1991. With the absence of the team’s 3 key players, including the two starting running backs, Terrance was called to fill the position. This was the moment he had prepared and waited for, and filled the position in a way no one ever could have predicted. That year, De La Salle remained undefeated while TK went on to earn MVP of the team and many other local, regional and statewide accolades, gaining him national attention and athletic scholarship offers from numerous Colleges and Universities.

 

Terrance ultimately accepted an offer from the University of Oregon, along with his closest friends from De La Salle. Unexpectedly and unfortunately, TK was tragically gunned down two days before his departure to be Duck. Though known mostly for his athletic accomplishments, TK was more than an athlete. Terrance was a beacon of light for his family and a role model to many of the inner-city youth in the Bay Area. He was loved and cherished by many in the Richmond community where he was raised and by his extended De La Salle Family.

 

For the incredible person and athletic athlete TK embodied, The WardBoy Project honors  his legacy  by awarding inner-city youth with educational scholarships.