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 stamina as well as mental strength. Within endurance ru ...

who twice represented his native country at the

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games, also known as the Summer Olympics or the Games of the Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inaugural Games took place in 1896 in Athens, then part of the King ...

, in 1936 and 1948, and competed in the

Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by eight 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 ins ...

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 ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

, 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 marat ...

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 (), officially the Games of the XI Olympiad () and officially branded as Berlin 1936, were an international multi-sport event held from 1 to 16 August 1936 in Berlin, then capital of Nazi Germany. Berlin won the bid to ...

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 officially branded as London 1948, were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus cau ...

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 kilometres ( 26 mi 385 yd), 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 ...

. 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 located roughly west of Downtown Boston, and comprises a patchwork of thirteen villages. The city borders Boston to the northeast and southeast (via the neighborhoods of ...

, 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 global magazine and website for runners of all abilities. It has additionally developed experiential formats, including a digital membership program, called Runner's World+. It is published by Hearst in Easton, Pennsylva ...

'' 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 village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Dennis in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It was settled in the 1630s. The population was 2,753 at the 2010 census. Geography East Dennis is located in t ...

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 for the United States Sportspeople from Arlington, Massachusetts Boston Marathon male winners American masters athletes Arlington High School (Massachusetts) alumni 20th-century American sportsmen

Biography

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Notes

References

References

External links