Dr. Kells Memorium

Sun Sounds Honors Dr. Frank Kells for a Lifetime of Service to Visually Impaired People

Sun Sounds is saddened by the loss of Dr. Frank Kells, a long-time advocate and supporter of services for people with vision disabilities.

In 1972 Dr. Kells, then an employee of Arizona Department of Economic Security, began exploring the fledgling radio reading service industry, looking for a way to provide printed material to visually impaired people. After six years of research and the help of several volunteers and supporting organizations who were equally committed to his idea, Dr. Kells saw his efforts come to fruition with the launch of Sun Sounds of Arizona radio reading service in October 1979. Dr. Kells remained active with the nascent radio reading service, helping to build community partnerships and forming an advisory "friends group" called the Sun Sounds Foundation. He was also instrumental in establishing Sun Sounds second broadcast facility in Tucson in February 1985.

Kells, himself eventually blind from retinitis pigmentosa, had a long career of serving people with vision impairment. In 1961 he took a job as Director of the Sacramento Society for the Blind, and three years later moved to Phoenix to lead what is now the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. In the early 70's Kells earned a doctorate in vocational rehabilitation counseling at the University of Arizona, and went on to work for Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration. For his vision, compassion, and dedication to people with vision disabilities, Sun Sounds of Arizona thanks Dr. Frank Kells for a lifetime of service and advocacy.

There will be a service of celebration for the life of Dr. Kells on Wed April 14 at 7pm at Southern AZ Association for Visually Impaired (SAAVI), 3767 E. Grant Rd., Tucson, and a memorial at the
Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ACBVI), 3100 E. Roosevelt St, Phoenix on Saturday, April 17th, 2pm.