Coming Soon: Find out about ‘The Other Kelce’ in Kansas City’s history

Last year, the Star launched “Reel Rare: Found Films from Old KC.” The series centers around home movies purchased on eBay by Leawood resident Joe Tomelleri.

A new installment arriving July 28 offers a great glimpse into “the other Kelce” in Kansas City’s history.

Unlike the football star (and apparently no relation to him) L. Russell Kelce made his mark in coal. He was born into a mining family in Pittsburg, KS, and in the first part of the 20th Century built a coal, oil and railroad empire from offices in downtown KC.

He also raised shorthorn cattle at his Merryvale Farm near Martin City and was constantly written up in the Star for activities with the American Royal, Saddle and Sirloin Club, the Boy Scouts and more.

Russell Kelce (pronounced “kels”) died in 1957 and today he’s all but unknown in the city where he made his fortune. At Pittsburg State University though, the planetarium and College of Business bear the Kelce name.

The films that ended up in Tomelleri’s hands range from the 1920s to the late 1940s, with scenes at home, on his ranch, at mining sites, on hunting expeditions and vacations taken in some very lovely places.

Oh, there’s even footage of Russell and the family tossing a football on the lawn.

You can peek at a trailer for “the other Kelce” video here.