Dale Kelley Honored for 15 Years of Service to Price Center at Annual Meeting

As the Price Center’s Annual Meeting was concluding this past Wednesday night, executive director Clay DeStefano returned to the microphone to honor one of the Center’s longest-serving board members, Dale Kelley.

Kelley joined the Price Center Board in 2010 after becoming aware of its mission and getting to know its founders, Ron and Marie Jager, during Rotary meetings then held at the Center. His commitment to the Center ever since has never waned.

“Dale served as the bridge between the Jagers leadership and mine, which we all know was no easy task,” said DeStefano.

Kelley headed the search committee that brought on DeStefano in 2015. He became Board President and, eventually, Treasurer before retiring in February.

“Dale has been many things to the Center, but mostly he's been a great champion and friend,” said DeStefano. “From all his volunteer time and attention to personal cash donations in the thousands of dollars throughout his tenure, I can honestly say I would not have made it these past 10 years without Dale’s belief in me and unwavering support of the Center’s mission,” he added.

Together, the pair helped transform the Price Center into an award-winning non-profit community center focused on community and healthy aging through the visual, cultural, and performing arts. Kelley’s influence continued through his direct assistance to Joan Nagel, the board chair who followed him.

“Dale has been a key figure in the development and growth of the Price Center, and an inspiration to all who have worked with him,” said Joan Nagel, current board chair. “He has been a friend to me personally, giving me the confidence and support to take over as chair and staying by my side as treasurer for the first few years,” she added. “I already miss him.”

The Annual Meeting also included the election of the 2025/26 officers and the kick-off of a three-month-long fundraiser to replenish the Center’s improvement funds, which have been depleting over the past several years due to significant investments in the facility.

Pictured at right, Clay DeStefano and Dale Kelley paused for a quick photo during the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Price Center's opening in December 2022.

The Price Center is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, currently open 7 days a week for private rental, and open to the public W-F, Noon -5, and Sat., 10-3. For more information, please call 512-392-2900, stop by the Center at 222 W. San Antonio St., or visit price-center.org or Facebook @ Price Center & Garden and Instagram @smtxpricecenter.