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Kelly Kazek was born in Warner Robins, Ga., in whichever year adds up to her being 35. Her family later moved to Huntsville, Ala., where she attended high school, concentrating mostly on boys but sometimes on chemistry class, where she became known as the only student ever to singe off her bangs in what is now referred to as The Bunsen Burner Incident. (In her defense, no one ever told her not to lean over the experiment area after shellacking her bangs with AquaNet.)
She then attended Auburn University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, in whichever year adds up to her being 35.
She chose English because of her love of words and devotion to proper grammar — who are we kidding? — it was because it was the only subject in which she earned straight A’s.
After graduating, she moved to Atlanta, where she wondered what English majors without teaching certificates do for a living.
Spotting an ad for a newspaper reporter, she applied and, just two days before she was to start a career as a waitress, she became a Real-For-Sure Journalist in the big city. Three months later, after her mom and dad spent hundreds of dollars on locks and bars for the doors and windows of her Atlanta apartment, she decided to move back to her parents’ home in Athens, Ala.
Since then, she freelanced briefly for The Huntsville Times, worked for The Decatur Daily, and owned her own business in Madison, Ala., for several years before becoming managing editor of The News Courier in Athens, where she has been since 2001.
She does not like to toot her own horn, but, being a well-bred Southern woman, she is willing to let others do it for her. So here goes:
Kelly has won more than 130 state and national awards in journalism, including numerous awards for humor writing and the Alabama Associated Press Sweepstakes Awards in 2007 and 2008. She has twice received first-place awards for Best Humorous Commentary from the Society of Professional Journalists Green Eyeshade Awards and received first place for Column Writing from Suburban Newspapers of America in 2009.
In 2006, Kelly was chosen for a fellowship in the Elite Reporter program and was named Feature Writer of the Year by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. in 2007. For three years, her columns were syndicated through CNHI News Service, appearing in newspapers across the country.
She has served as treasurer (2009) and president (2010) of the Alabama Associated Press Managing Editors.
Kelly also is a contributing author to “Weird U.S., The ODDyssey Continues,” by Moran, Sceurman and Lake, which was released in October by Barnes and Noble Books.
Oh, and a reflection of Kelly Kazek’s shirt can be seen in the movie “Constellation,” which was filmed in Huntsville, Ala. Her shirt's reflection appears in a scene with actress Zoe Saldana, who her ownself has appeared in films with Johnny Depp and Ashton Kutcher.
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Discussion
Biography of Kelly Kazek
- Kelly Kazek
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Each generation contends with struggles
This generation of young people thinks art appreciation is LOLing at Google Doodles. They don’t know dictionaries and encyclopedias were items you used to have to actually hold on your laptop, and they could be really heavy.
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Whoever said it, it's still true
It’s a great feeling to have a daughter who holds a job, keeps her grades up, manages her own money and still takes time for fun with friends in a healthy balance. After she sat on the sofa during high school and watched two seasons of “The Jersey Shore,” I wasn’t so sure.
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Biography of Kelly Kazek
Kelly Kazek was born in Warner Robins, Ga., in whichever year adds up to her being 35.
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I was proud to be part of it
I am proud to serve on the committee that is helping make the memorial a reality and I wanted to thank everyone who was instrumental in the plan.
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In Athens, Ala., grease is the word ...
I think the festival is a great idea. On that day, we can unabashedly show our love for all things Southern, as well as all things Greek. That means we can eat fried macaroni-and-cheese bites while wearing togas, which, if twisted just right, can be very slimming. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.
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Most of us have no choice about work
I think our system has devolved to the point that all politicians, and by extension their families, are so wealthy they can’t truly have an understanding of the lives of ordinary people.
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I won! I won! I won! I won!
I made a decision a long time ago that I do not wish to win mega-millions. Nope, I’ll earn mine the old fashioned way: One sweat-stained penny at a time. I should reach a million by the time I’m, say, 142.
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If you’re stupid and you know it, clap your hands
And as the saying goes, “Ignorance of your own stupidity is probably a good thing,” or something like that.
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Imagine bringing own toilet paper to work
Humor writers rarely have the occasion to hear four sweeter words than “great toilet paper debacle,” but in the case of Trenton, N.J., a recent incident is more of a cause for sadness and reflection than ridicule and laughter.
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Machines don't understand Southern accents
... they are either not programmed to understand the subtleties of the Southern accent, or they’re programmed to drive us to therapy.
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