"De Bones!"
Submitted By: L.Christy
Date: 06/16/1999

This relative of a famous Barker would like to pay tribute to one that should have been cloned!!! What will we do without De Bones??? Like Mr.Roberts, he was much more then just an actor seeking fame and fortune! A preacher of human values and reality checks!! Sometimes a little too pessimistic but always there to care! We hardly ever missed an episode during the Nam conflict and watched all the reruns after! These actors reach millions with their art and the positive and negatives have value to all of us! He will live forever in this world on digitally remastered versions of the first series (with warmer colors I hope)!! As one Fan has said, "Someone had to be first to beam up." I like that!! All my best to Carolyn Kelly!

"One Star Less"
Submitted By: Claire Smith
Date: 06/17/1999

For as long as I can remember, there has always been a Doc Bones and you will forever remain dear in my heart. As a child I liked you, now as an adult I love you. The news of your passing still brings me to tears, no longer will you be the thorn in Spock's side. The world of Star Trek will never be the same, one less star in the universe. Fare well old friend, you will live long and prosper in my memories.

"DeForest Kelley - Sadly missed"
Submitted By: Mike Graham
Date: 06/17/1999

I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Kelley. I heard about it on Saturday and was terribly upset. I am also sad to say that the British press has totally failed to make any reference to this great man, and did not even mention his death. Star Trek will never be quite the same again.

"This Was a Good Man"
Submitted By: John P. Francisco
Date: 06/17/1999

I had the pleasure of seeing DeForest Kelly at a convention in New York City some years ago. He talked fondly about what must have been hard times for him and his wife when they lived there in the early part of his career. He struck me as a generous, kind, and warm individual who led a decent, wholesome life and thoroughly enjoyed it. One consolation in his passing is that this fate awaits us all, and that one day we will all will be joining him. Until then, however, I will miss him. To his wife, friends, and the millions of people who knew and loved him as Dr. McCoy, I extend my deepest sympathies.

"DeForest Kelley Tribute"
Submitted By: Joannie Cheng
Date: 06/17/1999

I came to the United States when I was eight-years-old in 1978. And a few years after that, when I had learned English, I became a huge fan of Star Trek because I was obsessed with DeForest Kelley's marvelous performance as Dr. Leonard McCoy. No other character on that show mattered to me except for "Bones". As time passed and my tastes changed, I forgot about Star Trek and became fans of other actors. But I realized that I will forever remain a huge fan of Mr. Kelley for he was the first performer to make me feel star struck. Whenever I hear the news of the passing of a celebrity, it would never affect me. But when I heard of Mr. Kelley's death, I was extremely saddened. Even though the mass media has already forgotten him, I know us fans will always remember him and give him the tribute he deserves. My condolences to his wife.

"Remember"
Submitted By: Valerie Herd
Date: 06/17/1999

DeForest's portrayal of Dr McCoy was special, prompting many of us to wish our own doctors were as kind, caring and knowledgeable as Bones. Even De himself, in an interview he gave last year, said he wished his doctor was like McCoy! No wonder he served as the inspiration for many young people to enter into the medical profession. Let's hope there will be more "McCoy's" out there in real life. De, we miss you, but you will never be forgotten.

"Dr. McCoy's Passing"
Submitted By: Mark & Kelly Walker
Date: 06/17/1999

The only thing we can say at the passing of DeForest Kelley is that he isn't really dead as long as we remember him. I know that's been said a lot this week but it's the only thing we can think of that truly fits. Our sympathy goes out to his wife and family. Maybe we'll meet on the other side one day on the final frontier. Rest in Peace, Bones.

"So long, De"
Submitted By: James Clark
Date: 06/17/1999

I had the opportunity to see Mr. Kelley several times in person. The anticipation before he was introduced was just incredible. The audience soon learned that here was a kind and gentle man and someone who was there to play and have fun with us. We all dreaded the moment he had to leave. He is gone now and we will miss his presence in the world.

"Remembering De"
Submitted By: Steve Reed
Date: 06/18/1999

Among my passions is a lifelong love affair with "Star Trek." Yes, I admit it, I'm a Trekker. But I did more than just watch the show or attend a few conventions. As a teenager, I founded the first Atlanta "Star Trek" club and served as cochairman of the city's first convention.

It was the July 4th weekend, 1975, at the old Sheraton-Biltmore hotel. I was 17 years old. That convention was memorable for two reasons: (1) An almost fatal trip to a local radio station, and (2) I spent the weekend with DeForest Kelley ("Dr. McCoy") and James Doohan ("Scotty").

I had the lucky task of chauffeuring De that weekend around Atlanta. In fact, I nearly changed the entire history of "Star Trek." You see, I almost killed Dr. McCoy. De was appearing at a local radio station. I was driving him, along with some friends, in my Dad's 1971 Chevrolet Impala.

We were cruising up the interstate in the far-left lane. My best childhood friend, Alan Taylor, was sitting next to me. "The exit is about a mile down the road," he said, "You need to get in the right-hand lane."

I'm totally oblivious to my friend's advice. All I can think is, "I've got Dr. McCoy in the backseat of my Dad's car."

"You need to pull over now!"

My friend's instructions finally sank in...I veered across three lanes of interstate traffic in downtown Atlanta and hit the exit ramp at 65 mph. Kelley slid across the back seat of my Dad's car, his face hit the window, and he muttered something. Let's just say it wasn't "Live long and prosper."

He completed the radio interview. Alan insisted on driving us back to the hotel. I thought that was a great idea. I could sit in the back seat and chat with De. When I got in the back seat, he got out and got in the front seat with Alan. He did eventually forgive me and gave me an autographed picture. It read: "Thanks, Steve. You're one helluva driver. DeForest."

In 1986, Kelley returned to Atlanta to promote "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." I put in a call to the company which handled Paramount's publicity. It was late one afternoon and the phone rang. I assumed it was my wife calling to remind of an errand. When I picked up the phone, that familiar voice was on the other end, "Hello, Steve...this is DeForest Kelley."

We spent about ten minutes chatting. Among the things we had in common was that his Dad and I went to the same Baptist college. I told De that I was in the ministry and he seemed pleased that someone had followed in his Dad's footsteps.

When my daughter Amanda was born in 1988, De sent an autographed picture which read: "Amanda, your Dad's still one helluva driver. DeForest." I'll wait until she's a little older before I pass it on.

Later that year, I saw him for the last time at an Atlanta convention. He was warm and gracious as always.

My last contact with DeForest Kelley was in 1991. I was public relations director at Shorter College. I worked with the student affairs director in throwing a "Star Trek" party in conjunction with the release of the original cast's last film, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."

As the grand prize for the trivia contest, De sent several autographed pictures which read: "At the end of Shorter College lies the undiscovered country. Best Wishes, DeForest Kelley."

He was a wonderful man who made a lasting impression. So, De..."live long and prosper."