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If there's a common theme running through Kelly's work and his firm's multiple practice areas, it would be a com- mitment to community. pitch softball team. To date, Kelly has put in nearly two decades of coaching. One sign of his success in this endeavor is the praise . he earns from par- ents of the players. Jane Burd of St. Paul put her young daughter Sarah on Kelly's teams for three years. Kelly's impact on her was indelible. Burd notes in particular Kelly's insis- tence on fairness, and the surprising benefits that can yield. "What is so unique about Pat is that he always rotates every player and everyone gets the same amount of time to play. We were in a second championship game and it was really close. We had two outs and we could have won or lost on a run. At that stage even a good coach would have put in a strong hitter. But Pat's so fair. The batter up was the smallest girl on the team. She hasn't had a hit all sea- son. Not one. But it's her turn and he puts her in, and she hit! He knows that you're only as good as your weakest play- er. So he makes sure that your weakest players get better. He never writes any- one off." Kelly's coaching skills translate to grownups as well. John Quarnstrom, along with others, has experienced Kelly's teaching first hand. Now director of labor relations for the Sheet Metal, Air Conditioning and Roofing Contractors Association, Quarnstrom began his law career as a clerk for Kelly's firm, and stayed on for eight years. In addition to noting Kelly's "amazing abil- ity to get along with anybody," Quarnstrom lauds Kelly for being "a very good boss and mentor. Patrick gave me guidance and pointed out things that needed to change, without being brash or offensive," Quarnstrom says. "He can be very caring." Taking the Helm Kelly's going to need those coaching skills, not to mention stamina and time management, as he takes the helm of the MSBA. Gary Bastian, a Ramsey County trial judge and a good friend, has endured hours of driving to golf courses with Kelly talking on the phone the whole way. It's a price he gladly pays in exchange for having his friend's phone turned off while they make their way around the course. Even so, he expects to see much less of Kelly this year than usual. "It's already started 22 Bench &Bar of Minnesota A July 2006 www.mnbar.org