No one has ever accused me of being a rocket scientist, but as I enter 2020 and review my priorities in decades past, I believe that time has brought me wisdom with respect to resolutions. Like most of us, I’ve taken some time to consider my vision of what 2020 should yield: the things that I want to do and those I do not, what new skills I’d like to learn, how I will stay healthy and in shape, etc. But unlike previous years, the recurring theme that is playing through my head is that whether 2020 will be a successful year is not so much about my measurable accomplishments—it is about the person I choose to be. I must define the person that Mike Kelly should be—the person I want to be—and make strides toward becoming that man. In 2020, success will flow from my relationship with my friends and family and the assistance and kindness that I offer my fellow man.

For perhaps the first time, I feel like I am entering the new year with a clear—or shall I say, 20/20—vision of what true accomplishment looks like! In large part, I thank my long-time friend and fellow attorney, Steve Hamm, for this realization. He and I have been through it all—the delight of watching our children grow into successful adults, the ups and downs of our respective careers, and the personal joys and sorrows that sculpt each of us. On Monday, Steve called to invite me to dinner, having made it his New Year’s resolution to spend more time with friends. His gesture was touching and reminded me to think about what’s truly important, as opposed to how many boxes I check or accolades I receive. Steve Hamm—you’ve inspired me, my friend, and I cannot thank you enough!

With 2020 now in full swing, I hope that each of you is off to a great start and looking forward to what lies ahead this year and in the coming decade. Whatever your resolution may be, stay true to it—you are worth the effort it will take to make your 2020 vision your reality! Happy New Year!

In my 42 years of helping folks around the state with personal injury, workers’ compensation, and disability matters, I have been blessed with meeting thousands of extraordinary South Carolinians. One such man was Deputy Michael Latu of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, who we regrettably lost last week in the line of duty. Michael was a Samoan-American who grew up in Chicago, but he migrated down to the Pee Dee, where he became a deputy in Marion County and one of the finest South Carolinians I’ve had the privilege of representing. I came to know Michael after he was referred to Mike Kelly Law Group by a fellow deputy—and my friend—Jonathan Herring. But although my relationship with Michael started out as an attorney-client one, he was a fun-loving and agreeable man, and we became fast friends.

Michael lived and breathed law enforcement, and he LOVED his job. Deputy Latu was particularly interested in the tactical aspects of being an officer, and he volunteered for virtually any job Sheriff Wallace needed done. He lost his life in a single-car accident while on the way to back up a fellow officer involved in a foot-chase, and I can find some peace in knowing that Michael died doing what he loved best. Still, he will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and Marion County.

Deputy Latu made more of an impact on this earth in his 34 brief years than most people will make in a full lifetime. He worked passionately and pursued the greater good through his position with the Sheriff’s Office. He was reliable, jovial, and—though he’d never boast about it—Michael had a genius-level IQ. He was named both Patrolman of the Year and Deputy of the Year in 2018 for his dedication and service to Marion County. He is a man we can all aspire to be more like.

As we enter a new year and a new decade, I hope that we can all take with us a lesson from the life of Michael Latu. May we begin this new chapter with the passion and dedication he had, with his love of helping others, and with his humble and heartfelt demeanor. And may we remember that the moments we have on earth are few and precious, such that we spend more time focusing on the things in life that matter most with gratitude in our hearts.

Thank you for your service, Deputy Latu. You will be missed, but your legacy lives on.

Year after year, the world becomes more complex and complicated with technology, social media, and real-time news alerts; it’s exhausting to keep up, even for a “youthful” senior citizen such as myself. But for millennia, one thing has remained a constant: Christmas is a unique time of celebration and tradition. It’s a joyous season, observed globally by folks of different religious backgrounds, with family, friends, and festivities.

Christmas means many things to many people, but as a fourth-generation Episcopalian, for me, the Advent is a high time of worship. For nearly 40 years, I have been blessed to be a member of St. Martins-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Forest Acres, and although I am admittedly biased, I think St. Martins and Reverend Mitch Smith do a particularly excellent job of emphasizing Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a time for renewed dedication to our faith. My favorite night of the year is that of December 24th, when St. Martins holds its 10:30 service. This year, I’ve been honored with reading the first lesson to the congregation, and I cannot convey how much it will mean to me to be part of such a beautiful service.

Whether it is religion, fellowship, gift-giving, or any number of the wonderful things about this season, from the bottom of my heart, I hope you find time to relax and embrace what Christmas means to you in the days to come!

Although I have only had the privilege of meeting him on a few brief occasions, I can definitively say that University of South Carolina’s men’s basketball coach, Frank Martin, is a man worthy of respect. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to travel with the team on a road trip to their coach’s alma mater, Florida International University, and it was truly an eye-opening experience. Frank Martin has perhaps the most unique and inspiring background of any NCAA Division I basketball coach. Though he was born in Miami, Frank’s parents—both of whom immigrated to the States from Cuba after Castro came into power—spoke virtually no English.  Frank learned English as a second language only after he started school, but that was only one of many obstacles he faced as a boy. At the early age of 12, he began working at Dairy Queen and had a multitude of odd jobs over the years. He ultimately decided to pursue a full-time career as a basketball coach in 1992, after being shot at during his shift as a nightclub bouncer. He was studying physical education at FIU and coaching a JV team at the time, and he went on to accept a high school varsity coaching job after graduating in 1993.

Frank climbed the ranks and began coaching college basketball in 2000, and he’s made history from there. While head coach at Kansas State, he was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year, and he was the 2017 recipient of the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award in 2017 after leading the Gamecocks to the Final Four. Frank has taken our men’s basketball team to new heights and has been a blessing to both USC and the men he has coached. He brings so much more to the lives of his players than wins and losses, and I guarantee just about every person who’s played for Frank Martin over the years would move mountains for him. Although he’s known to be vociferous and hard on his players, his tough love builds discipline and character—and a great basketball team. So far, the Gamecocks are having a winning season; they secured a big victory against UMass this week and we’re hoping for another against Houston on Sunday!

Ladies and gents, it’s that time again—the 2019 Carolina-Clemson rivalry game is upon us! This Saturday, after spending Thanksgiving with friends and family for fellowship and too much turkey, we will don our garnet and orange respectively and head to Williams Brice Stadium to cheer on our rivaling teams. Although it looks to be an uphill battle for my Gamecocks, you really never know what will happen when a team turns up the heat for a good old fashioned rivalry game.

The Carolina-Clemson rivalry—just like that between Ohio State and Michigan, Alabama and Auburn, Georgia and Georgia Tech, Florida and Florida State, etc.—captures the attention of the whole state, even the non-football fans, and is always an exciting day in South Carolina! The Tigers are absolutely loaded this year and a favorite to win the National Championship title once again, but on Saturday I will be living by South Carolina’s motto: “While I Breathe, I Hope.” So with that, I’ll be rooting on the Gamecocks and keeping my fingers crossed for 12 months of bragging rights!

The past 11 months have been a whirlwind of change, and in the hustle and bustle of it all, the year has slipped right through my fingers. It feels like no time has passed at all since we rang in 2019, yet suddenly, the holiday season is in full swing with Thanksgiving less than a week away. My Mike Kelly Law Group family will tell you that I can be a bit of a Grinch around the holidays; I love my work and the fast pace of it, so when we close up shop for days on end, I feel restless instead of relaxed. But when I pause to consider all that has transpired this year, both in my personal life and my professional one, I suspect that I might benefit greatly from a short reprieve; it will allow me to catch my breath and process the events of the year, but more importantly, to reflect on and give thanks for the joyous ones.

First and foremost, I thank the Good Lord for the gift of life and for allowing me to celebrate another Thanksgiving! I give thanks for the blessings that bring purpose and light into my life: my family, friends, and loved ones; the opportunity to make a difference in this world through my law practice; my wonderful clients and co-workers; my faith and beloved church; my health—and the list goes on and on. Of course, my football team is having a rough go of it this year…but let’s not dwell on that one! Even when the Gamecocks let me down, I am fortunate to have wonderful people around me to lift me up, a lifetime of memories that warm my heart and bring a smile to my face, and new opportunities and experiences to look forward to. So with that, I think I will give myself permission to slow down this Thanksgiving in order to count my blessings and digest all that has transpired this year (and, of course, lots of turkey!).

For over forty years, I have passionately advocated for my friends and neighbors whose legal rights had been challenged or violated. To me, the individual freedoms of the American people, and the democracy at their foundation, are sacrosanct. And so, not a day goes by without feeling great reverence to the men and women whose service and sacrifice have allowed our liberty to endure: our veterans.

Unfortunately, many of us—myself included—do not do enough to express our gratitude for our veterans and their service to our country. With Veterans Day just around the corner, there is no better time than the present to rectify this. Whether it’s by joining in this weekend’s Veterans Day Salute at Williams-Brice Stadium, donating to an organization such as Wounded Warrior Project or Semper Fi Fund, or placing a phone call to the vets in your life just to say thank you, please take the time this week to salute our nation’s veterans.

Finally, to the veterans reading this KellyGram: from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your service.

We at Mike Kelly Law Group take pride in the communities that we serve—Richland, Fairfield, and Horry Counties—and love taking part in the rich and whimsical traditions that each has to offer.  Between the three locations, there is never a shortage of things to do on the weekends, and this one is no exception.  For me, the good times will be rolling in Ridgeway, SC while eating BBQ at one of the coolest fall festivals in the South: Pig on the Ridge.

The fun kicks off tonight at 6:30 with the “No Pigs Allowed” event, where the region’s finest BBQ chefs will whet the appetites festival-goers with all of the sides and fixings a Southern heart could desire…but there’ll be no BBQ to be found! Instead, the night’s main course will consist of a hearty serving of camaraderie and dancing in the streets as we get ready for Saturday morning’s BBQ cook-off. Contest entrants begin selling BBQ at 9am sharp, and it will sell out fast—so if you want to decide for yourself who has the best dish in town, be sure to get there early! The festivities will continue through the morning and early afternoon with a live DJ, hog calling contest, and an antique car show and parade. Contest winners will be announced at 2pm, leaving just enough time to catch a quick nap before cheering the Gamecocks on toward a victory against Vanderbilt!

So if you’re looking for a little excitement this weekend, all roads lead to Ridgeway, SC—see you there!