Hall of Fame
A former Lewis track and field stadnout, Dr. Inez (Brown) Kelleher, is still a winner 16 years later, on a different playing field. As an orthopedic surgery resident, Dr. Kelleher is employed by the United States Air Force at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
As a middle distance runner for Lewis' small and newly formed track and field team from 1973-1977, Kelleher distinguished herself by taking third in the AIAW Illinois small school meet 800-meter race in both her sophomore and junior years. She also competed in the 400-meter distance, placing fifth in her freshman year. Her senior year, Kelleher was named team most valuable athlete, narrowly missing qualifying for the nationals in the 800. Attending Lewis on both athletic and academic scholarships, Kelleher competed in volleyball for two years as well as track and field, being named "Most Improved Player" for both squads in her sophomore year.
Kelleher's professional achievements parallel her athletic history. With a bachelor's degree and academic honors in biology/pre-med from Lewis, she continued her education, earning a master's degree in biology and reproductive physiology from Loyola University. She married fellow Lewis athlete, Kevin C. Kelleher '79 and the couple had three children- Brendan, Kevin Patrick and Brian. Her husband was tragically killed in a Air Force plane accident in 1985. Just a year later, Kelleher was accepted to the medical school at Georgetown University. As a medical student, she was selected to the medical honorary, Alpha Omega Alpha. In 1990, Kelleher began her residency at the Mayo Clinic as an orthopedic surgeon.
