John Simms "Shipwreck" Kelly (July 8, 1910 - August 17, 1986) was a professional American Football player who played halfback in the National Football League; he was also an owner and banker, most prominent in New York City in the 1930s and 1940s. He played five seasons for the New York Giants (1932) and the Brooklyn Dodgers (1933-1937). Kelly became a player-coach and later a player/coach/owner with the Dodgers football club, the successor to the Dayton Triangles, a charter member of the NFL. the Dodgers, through a couple of reorganizations, became the Baltimore Colts, now the Indianapolis Colts. He gained his nickname from his ability, while at the University of Kentucky, to make a "shipwreck" of opposing defensive lines[citation needed], or from Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, who was famous for pole-sitting in the 1920s.[1]
John Kelly (6942976)
New York Times Obituary
John (Shipwreck) Kelly, a star running back at the University of Kentucky in the early 1930's whose marriage in 1941 to Brenda Frazier, a socialite heiress, received national attention, died of a stroke Aug. 17 in Lighthouse Point, Fla. He was 76 years old.
Mr. Kelly gained 1, 074 yards, at the time a school record, during his senior year at Kentucky, where he won all-Southern Conference honors in 1930 and 1931. In college he also gained his nickname, which came from a famous flagpole sitter of the 1920's. He went on to play football professionally in 1932 for the New York Giants and in 1933, 1934 and 1937 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He became a co-owner of the Dodgers with Dan Topping in the late 1930's.
Mr. Kelly was an insurance broker in June 1941 when he married Miss Frazier, a debutante known as a "glamour girl" in high social circles. At the time of their wedding, Miss Frazier was the heir to a trust fund worth a reported $3.5 million.
In 1946, their daughter, Brenda Victoria, was born. The marriage ended in divorce 10 years later. Mr. Kelly, then an investment banker and a prominent amateur golfer on Long Island, later married Catherine Manning Hannon of Boston. The marriage also ended in divorce.
Mr. Kelly's survivors include his daughter and a son, John, of New York City, by his marriage to Miss Hannon, now Mrs. Douglas Auchincloss of New York City.
A memorial service for Mr. Kelly will be held on Sept. 6 at 11 A.M. at the Chapel in Memorial Cemetery, Syosset, L.I. Burial will be in Simmstown, Ky. Mr. Kelly's birthplace.
Contributor of Obituary: Diane H. (49509748)
Florida, Death Index
Name: John S Kelly
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 17 Aug 1966
Event Place: Broward Co., Florida
Age: 76
Race: White
Certificate Number: 76014
John Kelly (6942976)
New York Times Obituary
John (Shipwreck) Kelly, a star running back at the University of Kentucky in the early 1930's whose marriage in 1941 to Brenda Frazier, a socialite heiress, received national attention, died of a stroke Aug. 17 in Lighthouse Point, Fla. He was 76 years old.
Mr. Kelly gained 1, 074 yards, at the time a school record, during his senior year at Kentucky, where he won all-Southern Conference honors in 1930 and 1931. In college he also gained his nickname, which came from a famous flagpole sitter of the 1920's. He went on to play football professionally in 1932 for the New York Giants and in 1933, 1934 and 1937 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He became a co-owner of the Dodgers with Dan Topping in the late 1930's.
Mr. Kelly was an insurance broker in June 1941 when he married Miss Frazier, a debutante known as a "glamour girl" in high social circles. At the time of their wedding, Miss Frazier was the heir to a trust fund worth a reported $3.5 million.
In 1946, their daughter, Brenda Victoria, was born. The marriage ended in divorce 10 years later. Mr. Kelly, then an investment banker and a prominent amateur golfer on Long Island, later married Catherine Manning Hannon of Boston. The marriage also ended in divorce.
Mr. Kelly's survivors include his daughter and a son, John, of New York City, by his marriage to Miss Hannon, now Mrs. Douglas Auchincloss of New York City.
A memorial service for Mr. Kelly will be held on Sept. 6 at 11 A.M. at the Chapel in Memorial Cemetery, Syosset, L.I. Burial will be in Simmstown, Ky. Mr. Kelly's birthplace.
Contributor of Obituary: Diane H. (49509748)
Florida, Death Index
Name: John S Kelly
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 17 Aug 1966
Event Place: Broward Co., Florida
Age: 76
Race: White
Certificate Number: 76014
John Simms "Shipwreck" Kelly (July 8, 1910 - August 17, 1986) was a professional American Football player who played halfback in the National Football League; he was also an owner and banker, most prominent in New York City in the 1930s and 1940s. He played five seasons for the New York Giants (1932) and the Brooklyn Dodgers (1933-1937). Kelly became a player-coach and later a player/coach/owner with the Dodgers football club, the successor to the Dayton Triangles, a charter member of the NFL. the Dodgers, through a couple of reorganizations, became the Baltimore Colts, now the Indianapolis Colts. He gained his nickname from his ability, while at the University of Kentucky, to make a "shipwreck" of opposing defensive lines[citation needed], or from Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, who was famous for pole-sitting in the 1920s.[1]
John Kelly (6942976)
New York Times Obituary
John (Shipwreck) Kelly, a star running back at the University of Kentucky in the early 1930's whose marriage in 1941 to Brenda Frazier, a socialite heiress, received national attention, died of a stroke Aug. 17 in Lighthouse Point, Fla. He was 76 years old.
Mr. Kelly gained 1, 074 yards, at the time a school record, during his senior year at Kentucky, where he won all-Southern Conference honors in 1930 and 1931. In college he also gained his nickname, which came from a famous flagpole sitter of the 1920's. He went on to play football professionally in 1932 for the New York Giants and in 1933, 1934 and 1937 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He became a co-owner of the Dodgers with Dan Topping in the late 1930's.
Mr. Kelly was an insurance broker in June 1941 when he married Miss Frazier, a debutante known as a "glamour girl" in high social circles. At the time of their wedding, Miss Frazier was the heir to a trust fund worth a reported $3.5 million.
In 1946, their daughter, Brenda Victoria, was born. The marriage ended in divorce 10 years later. Mr. Kelly, then an investment banker and a prominent amateur golfer on Long Island, later married Catherine Manning Hannon of Boston. The marriage also ended in divorce.
Mr. Kelly's survivors include his daughter and a son, John, of New York City, by his marriage to Miss Hannon, now Mrs. Douglas Auchincloss of New York City.
A memorial service for Mr. Kelly will be held on Sept. 6 at 11 A.M. at the Chapel in Memorial Cemetery, Syosset, L.I. Burial will be in Simmstown, Ky. Mr. Kelly's birthplace.
Contributor of Obituary: Diane H. (49509748)
Florida, Death Index
Name: John S Kelly
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 17 Aug 1966
Event Place: Broward Co., Florida
Age: 76
Race: White
Certificate Number: 76014
John Kelly (6942976)
New York Times Obituary
John (Shipwreck) Kelly, a star running back at the University of Kentucky in the early 1930's whose marriage in 1941 to Brenda Frazier, a socialite heiress, received national attention, died of a stroke Aug. 17 in Lighthouse Point, Fla. He was 76 years old.
Mr. Kelly gained 1, 074 yards, at the time a school record, during his senior year at Kentucky, where he won all-Southern Conference honors in 1930 and 1931. In college he also gained his nickname, which came from a famous flagpole sitter of the 1920's. He went on to play football professionally in 1932 for the New York Giants and in 1933, 1934 and 1937 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He became a co-owner of the Dodgers with Dan Topping in the late 1930's.
Mr. Kelly was an insurance broker in June 1941 when he married Miss Frazier, a debutante known as a "glamour girl" in high social circles. At the time of their wedding, Miss Frazier was the heir to a trust fund worth a reported $3.5 million.
In 1946, their daughter, Brenda Victoria, was born. The marriage ended in divorce 10 years later. Mr. Kelly, then an investment banker and a prominent amateur golfer on Long Island, later married Catherine Manning Hannon of Boston. The marriage also ended in divorce.
Mr. Kelly's survivors include his daughter and a son, John, of New York City, by his marriage to Miss Hannon, now Mrs. Douglas Auchincloss of New York City.
A memorial service for Mr. Kelly will be held on Sept. 6 at 11 A.M. at the Chapel in Memorial Cemetery, Syosset, L.I. Burial will be in Simmstown, Ky. Mr. Kelly's birthplace.
Contributor of Obituary: Diane H. (49509748)
Florida, Death Index
Name: John S Kelly
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 17 Aug 1966
Event Place: Broward Co., Florida
Age: 76
Race: White
Certificate Number: 76014
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