In 1979, a group of lighting professionals, members of the New York Chapter of IES who had worked with Kelly on various committees, wanted to commemorate his memory with a scholarship that encouraged students or recent graduates to accomplish something in lighting. The Richard Kelly Memorial Scholarship, open to people under 30 working in the US, was founded. It was announced at a luncheon at the Plaza Hotel. Philip Johnson, with whom Kelly had worked on many projects, was the keynote speaker. Several years of fundraising efforts followed.