Robert "Sam" Kelley

Robert “Sam” Kelley grew up in Portland, Maine, attended Cheverus High School, and graduated from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In late 1967 he joined the U.S. Army, trained at Fort Dix, and attended Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia. After attending Airborne School in Georgia, Sam joined the 82nd Airborne and served in Vietnam, where he was an infantry platoon officer. When the 82nd went home, he joined the 199th Leader Development Brigade as a reconnaissance platoon commander for the rest of his tour.

After serving in Vietnam, he joined Ford Motor Co. and later American Motors. In 1980 he started his own business selling and renting semi-trailers, which he continues to operate.

Sam has lived in Scarborough since 1977, has three children and three grandchildren. His wife is a retired teacher. He has been involved in numerous nonprofit activities, including the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Little League, and Project GRACE, among others.

A Vet to Vet volunteer since 2017, Sam visits a World War II veteran who is 92. He says his involvement in Vet to Vet Maine and the opportunity to aid a fellow veteran is “literally one of the best things I have ever done for my fellow man in life.”