Marathon Runner. He was probably America's permiere long distance competitor of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Raised in New London, Connecticut, he began marathon running while a student at Bulkeley High School against the advice of his coach and continued during his undergraduate and graduate education at Boston University. Called "the Younger" to distinguish him from the legendary John A. "Johnny" Kelley ("the Elder", deceased 2004) who won the Boston Marathon in 1935 and 1945, he first finished at Boston in 1953 then captured his first major title when he won the 1956 Yonkers Marathon which at that time constituted the national championship; he went on to win at Yonkers every year thru 1963 and in 1957 took what is probably the 'Holy Grail' of long distance events, the Boston Marathon, with a time of 2:20:05. Kelley earned a Gold Medal in the 1959 Pan American Games, came in second at Boston five times, won numerous titles at the 15, 20, 25, and 30 kilometer distances, and competed in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic marathons, though he failed to capture a medal. He taught English and coached track in Groton, Connecticut, for many years, finished his last Boston Marathon in 1992, and in 2002 was named to the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. Kelley lived out his days in Mystic, Connecticut, and died of metastatic malignant melanoma
Marathon Runner. He was probably America's permiere long distance competitor of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Raised in New London, Connecticut, he began marathon running while a student at Bulkeley High School against the advice of his coach and continued during his undergraduate and graduate education at Boston University. Called "the Younger" to distinguish him from the legendary John A. "Johnny" Kelley ("the Elder", deceased 2004) who won the Boston Marathon in 1935 and 1945, he first finished at Boston in 1953 then captured his first major title when he won the 1956 Yonkers Marathon which at that time constituted the national championship; he went on to win at Yonkers every year thru 1963 and in 1957 took what is probably the 'Holy Grail' of long distance events, the Boston Marathon, with a time of 2:20:05. Kelley earned a Gold Medal in the 1959 Pan American Games, came in second at Boston five times, won numerous titles at the 15, 20, 25, and 30 kilometer distances, and competed in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic marathons, though he failed to capture a medal. He taught English and coached track in Groton, Connecticut, for many years, finished his last Boston Marathon in 1992, and in 2002 was named to the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. Kelley lived out his days in Mystic, Connecticut, and died of metastatic malignant melanoma
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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