1. John Adelbert Kelley was an American long-distance runner who twice represented his native country at the Summer Olympics, in 1936 and 1948, and competed in the Boston Marathon over 50 times, winning in 1935 and 1945.
13 Facts About Johnny Kelley
1. 2.
Johnny Kelley was often dubbed "Kelley the Elder" to avoid confusion with John J Kelley, winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon; the two men were not related.
3.
Johnny Kelley did not finish his first Boston Marathon in 1928, but eventually competed in a record 61 Boston Marathons.
4.
Johnny Kelley finished in second place at Boston a record seven times.
5.
In 1936, Johnny Kelley overtook Ellison "Tarzan" Brown near Heartbreak Hill, giving him a consolatory pat on the shoulder as he passed.
6.
Johnny Kelley again competed for the US in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.
7.
At age 70, Johnny Kelley was still running 50 miles a week and around 15 races a year.
8.
Johnny Kelley ran his 50th Boston Marathon in 1981; the event was his 108th career marathon.
9.
Johnny Kelley ran his last full marathon at Boston in 1992 at the age of 84, his 61st start and 58th finish there.
10.
In 1993, a commemorative statue of Johnny Kelley was erected near the City Hall of Newton, Massachusetts, on the Boston Marathon course, one hill and about 1 mile prior to the foot of Heartbreak Hill.
11.
Johnny Kelley was named "Runner of the Century" by Runner's World magazine in 2000.
12.
Johnny Kelley enjoyed painting and worked in natural landscapes, producing about 20 paintings a year.
13.
Johnny Kelley died in 2004 at age 97; he is buried in Quivet Neck Cemetery in East Dennis, Massachusetts.