Charles Kelly’s Unending Work Ethic is the Driving Force Behind His 65-Year Career

While Charles Kelly didn’t start his career as an inspector, he has served the City of Camilla for over 65 years, first as a firefighter and fire chief. His time with the fire department lasted nearly 40 years and included a one-year stint as a police officer when the fire and police departments were combined.

As a small town with a few thousand people, the Camilla fire department was often tasked with performing duties outside the purview of fire safety. The water and gas departments were separate, but building safety remained a part of the fire department until the town’s population began to grow in the early ‘90s.

Kelly was not yet certified in building safety, so he went to school at Southern Building Code and became certified when the International Code Council took over in 1994.

His 29-year career as a building inspector led to numerous accolades, including the 2013 State of Georgia Building Official of the Year award, as well as a ring from the Building Officials Association of Georgia (BOAG). This year he was recognized as a Lifetime Member of BOAG at the association’s annual conference. He previously served as the president of the Georgia State Inspector’s Association for two years. Kelly also worked as a bus driver for 13 years and has monitored weather and rain temperatures for the United States Weather Bureau for Mitchell County for 64 years. He earned the Longevity Award for his lifetime of service with the bureau.

“I enjoy working,” Kelly said of his lengthy career. “I’m so used to doing this, I’m not sure what I would do if I retired. Probably waste away.”

Building Industry Experience Opened the Door to Building Safety

Firefighting is an important part of building safety, but Kelly’s first true foray into the space began on his days off. He disliked the idea of sitting still and wanted to remain active, even during the early years of his career, so he used his time off to work in the building industry.

“That’s one of the reasons why I could do inspections,” said Kelly. “Because I know how they put a house together.”

Kelly has also taken the time to mentor others, including Keith Lodge, Planning and Zoning Administrator for the City of Camilla.

“He was always a non-confrontational guy, and he got certified in just about everything you can do, which is really amazing,” said Lodge. “He moved over from the fire department chief to the code office, which he actually started.”

Lodge has known Kelly since he was 12 years old. He remembers riding his bike to the fire department (which only had a few employees at the time), where he and Kelly would talk about firefighting.

“Back when everybody started doing building inspections, Kelly was one of the first in the whole state to do it,” Lodge added. “He has stayed up to date for years. Everyone in town likes him. He’s very helpful – contractors ask him all kinds of questions and he’s got a great relationship with all of them.”

Even With Decades of Experience, There’s Always More to Learn in Building Safety

While Kelly has been happy to give advice, he’s also been eager to ask for it whenever necessary. A lifelong learner, Kelly pays close attention to the insights shared by contractors. This summer he learned that, per code requirements, ground fault interrupters (GFI) require a sticker that signifies the type of receptacle being installed. It might sound like a minor aspect, but no detail is too small for a building official.

“You learn something every day,” said Kelly. “When I started, the code book was maybe an inch thick. Now it’s three inches thick! It’s for safety, of course. Every year they’ve added a few more codes.”

Not all of the changes have been related to new or evolving codes. During his career, Kelly has seen the introduction of insulated windows and other energy-saving measures. He marvels at the transition from purely manual labor, in which contractors were required to individually hammer every nail, to the more efficient process created through the use of handheld nail guns.

Retirement Isn’t in the Cards for This Building Safety Professional

Most people at least consider retiring someday, but not Kelly. It’s not for a lack of other interests, though he admitted he doesn’t fish, golf, ski or play tennis.

“I’ve got to be doing something,” he insisted, noting that he appreciates the variety of work in building safety. “It’s a different day, every day. You run into different things you never even thought about. And it keeps you going, ‘cause I’ve had prostate cancer and melanoma. I’ve beaten them so far and I’m healthy.

Lodge praised Kelly’s relentless work ethic, as well as his dedication to staying on top of new codes.

“The main thing that he taught me was to be an instructor to contractors as much as being a tough guy,” said Lodge. “Let them know that we’re there not only to protect the homeowner or the city, we’re there to help educate them as well.”

Learn more about the building safety profession here.