John Adelbert Kelley (September 6, 1907 – October 6, 2004) was an American

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires endurance, stamina as well as mental strength. Within e ...

who twice represented his native country at the

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...

, in 1936 and 1948, and competed in the

Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by several cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was i ...

over 50 times, winning in 1935 and 1945. He was often dubbed "Kelley the Elder" to avoid confusion with John J. Kelley (1930–2011; "Kelley the Younger"), winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon; the two men were not related.

Biography

Born in West Medford,

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

, as one of ten children, Kelley ran track and cross-country at Arlington High School in Massachusetts. He did not finish his first

in 1928, but eventually competed in a record 61 Boston Marathons. Regarded as a legend of the marathon, Kelley won the 1935 and 1945 runnings of the

. He finished in second place at Boston a record seven times. Between 1934 and 1950, he finished in the top five 15 times at Boston, consistently running in the 2:30s. Kelley also ran the

Yonkers Marathon The Yonkers Marathon, is a marathon race held annually in Yonkers, New York. Founded in 1907, it is the second oldest marathon in the United States, after the Boston Marathon. It is held on the third Sunday in October. In addition to the mar ...

29 times. In 1936, Kelley overtook Ellison "Tarzan" Brown near Heartbreak Hill, giving him a consolatory pat on the shoulder as he passed. This gesture renewed the competitive drive in Brown, who rallied, pulled ahead of Kelley, and went on to win—thereby, it was said, breaking Kelley's heart. A member of the U.S. Olympic Team at the

1936 Summer Olympics The 1936 Summer Olympics (German: ''Olympische Sommerspiele 1936''), officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad (German: ''Spiele der XI. Olympiade'') and commonly known as Berlin 1936 or the Nazi Olympics, were an international multi-sp ...

in Berlin, Kelley finished 18th in the marathon. He again competed for the U.S. in the

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ca ...

in London. At age 70, Kelley was still running a week and around 15 races a year. He ran his 50th

in 1981; the event was also his 108th career

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

. Kelley ran his last full marathon at Boston in 1992 at the age of 84, his 61st start and 58th finish there. For two more years, he ran the last . In 1993, a commemorative statue of Kelley was erected near the City Hall of

Newton, Massachusetts Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is approximately west of downtown Boston. Newton resembles a patchwork of thirteen villages, without a city center. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population of Ne ...

, on the Boston Marathon course, one hill and about prior to the foot of Heartbreak Hill. Kelley was named "Runner of the Century" by ''

Runner's World ''Runner's World'' is a globally circulated monthly magazine for runners of all skills sets, published by Hearst in Easton, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Before its acquisition by Hearst, it was founded and published by Rodale, Inc. in E ...

'' magazine in 2000. He enjoyed painting and worked in natural landscapes, producing about 20 paintings a year. One commissioned work is ''The Boston Dream'', a Primitive School painting showing the marathon course, with Hopkinton and Boston rising from the distance, as two winter runners—a woman and a man—train for their "Boston dream". Kelley died in 2004 at age 97; he is buried in Quivet Neck Cemetery in

East Dennis, Massachusetts East Dennis is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Dennis in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,753 at the 2010 census. Geography East Dennis is located in the northeast part of the town of Dennis at ...

Quotes

Notes

References

''Running Past'' profile

''Boston Globe'' obituary

External links

*

Photo story and obituary in the Boston Globe
Retrieved 2008-03-19

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelley, Johnny 1907 births 2004 deaths American male long-distance runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics Olympic track and field athletes of the United States People from Arlington, Massachusetts Boston Marathon male winners American masters athletes Arlington High School (Massachusetts) alumni Sportspeople from Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Biography

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References

References

External links