William Francis Kelly was born on August 17, 1931 in Kenora, Ontario. He received his early education at Port Arthur, Ontario, and Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan and graduated from Central Collegiate in Regina in 1949. Kelly attended McGill University on a Canadian Pacific Railway scholarship from 1949 to 1954, earning a Bachelor of Architecture degree.
After employment as a draftsman with various engineering and architectural firms throughout Canada, Kelly returned to Regina in 1956 and soon thereafter registered as a member of the Saskatchewan Association of Architects. He commenced work as a designer and draftsman with Stock, Ramsay & Associates and advanced with the firm (through its various name changes) to be appointed partner with the D.H. Stock Partnership in 1966. Kelly continued with D.H. Stock and Partners Limited until October 1972.
In January 1973, Kelly established a private architectural firm in Regina. It was incorporated as William Kelly Architect Ltd. in 1975 and its name was revised to William Kelly Architect (1983) Limited in 1983. Kelly's firm provided architectural services including feasibility and condition studies, design and space planning, and project management to clients for residential, commercial and institutional construction or renovation projects primarily throughout southern Saskatchewan. The firm also provided consultation services to architectural, engineering and project management firms. William Kelly Architect (1983) Limited ceased operations in 2005 when Kelly retired from practice.
Kelly also established and incorporated William Kelly Holdings Ltd. in 1975 to manage the various real estate properties he owned. William Kelly Holdings Ltd. also ceased operations in 2005.
Kelly's professional affiliations included serving as president of the Saskatchewan Association of Architects, and holding membership with Heritage Canada, Construction Specifications Canada, the Council of Educational Facility Planners, and the Canadian Hospital Engineering Society. Kelly was also appointed to the Senate of the University of Regina and to the boards of the United Way of Regina, the Regina Chamber of Commerce, the Regina Community Foundation, the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, the Wascana and Queen City chapters of the Kiwanis Club, and the Hospitals of Regina Foundation.
Awards and honours received by Kelly include the City of Regina Municipal Heritage Award (1992), a Certificate of Merit from the Saskatchewan Association of Architects (1997), appointment to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's College of Fellows (1998) and life membership to the Saskatchewan Association of Architects (2011).
William Kelly died at Regina on October 6, 2021.