View source for Jack Kelly Jr. (rower)

{{short description|American rower (1927–1985)}}
{{Other people|John Kelly}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = John B. Kelly Jr.
| office              = President of the [[United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee|United States Olympic Committee]]
| term_start          = February 1985
| term_end            = March 1985
| predecessor         = [[William E. Simon]]
| successor           = [[Robert Helmick]]
| office1             = [[Philadelphia City Council]]man At-Large
| term_start1         = 1967
| term_end1           = 1979
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| image               = Ens John B Kelly, Jr, USN, 04May1951 (2).jpg
| alt                 = Black and white portrait photograph of Kelly in 1951. He is looking directly into the camera.
| caption             = Kelly in 1951
| headercolor         = 
| birth_name          = John Brendan Kelly Jr.
| nickname            = Kell Kelly<br />Jack Kelly
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1927|05|24|mf=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1985|03|02|1927|05|24|mf=yes}}
| death_place         = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| resting_place       = [[Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania)|Holy Sepulchre Cemetery]], [[Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| monuments           = 
| education           = 
| alma_mater          = [[University of Pennsylvania]]
| occupation          = 
| years_active        = 
| employer            = 
| relatives           = [[Grace Kelly]] (sister)
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Mary Freeman (swimmer)|Mary Gray Freeman]]|1954|1980|reason=divorced}}<ref name="FirstMarraige">{{cite web |url=http://www.tumblr.com/search/mary%20freeman%20spitzer |title=Mary Freeman Spitzer |access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref><br />{{marriage|Sandra Worley|1981}}
| life_partner        = 
| other_interests     = 
| website             = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} -->
| module              = {{Infobox sportsperson
|embed         = yes
| height           = 185 cm<ref name=sr>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418080828/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ke/jack-kelly-jr-1.html Jack Kelly, Jr.] sports-reference.com</ref>
| weight           = 83 kg
| country          = 
| sport            = Rowing
| position         = 
| disability       = 
| disability_class = 
| rank             = 
| event            = 
| collegeteam      = 
| universityteam   = 
| league           = 
| league_type      = 
| club             = Vesper Boat Club<ref name=sr/>
| team             = 
| turnedpro        = 
| partner          = 
| former_partner   = 
| coach            = 
| retired          = 
| coaching         = 
| worlds           = 
| regionals        = 
| nationals        = 
| olympics         = 
| paralympics      = 
| highestranking   = 
| pb               = 
| medaltemplates   = 
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Rowing at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne]] | [[Rowing at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's single sculls|Single sculls]] }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1955 Pan American Games|1955 Mexico city]] | Single sculls }}
{{MedalGold | [[1959 Pan American Games|1959 Chicago]] | Double sculls }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Rowing Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1949 European Rowing Championships|1949 Amsterdam]] | Single sculls }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1958 European Rowing Championships|1958 Poznań]] |Eights}}
| show-medals      = 
| updated          = 
}}
| parents             = [[Margaret Majer]]<br/>[[John B. Kelly Sr.]]
}}

'''John Brendan Kelly Jr.''' (May 24, 1927 – March 2, 1985), also known as '''Kell Kelly''', was an American athlete, a rower, a four-time Olympian, and an Olympic medal winner. He was the son of triple Olympic gold medal winner [[Jack Kelly Sr. (rower)|Jack Kelly Sr.]], and the elder brother of the actress and [[List of Monégasque consorts|Princess of Monaco]], [[Grace Kelly]]. In 1947, Kelly was awarded the [[James E. Sullivan Award]] as the top amateur athlete in the United States. He had become president of the [[United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee|United States Olympic Committee]] shortly before his death.

Kelly was also a politician, and served as an [[at-large]] member of the [[Philadelphia City Council]].

==Early life and family==
[[File:John B. Kelly Jr 1945.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Kelly in 1945]]
Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second child and only son of [[Margaret Majer|Margaret Katherine Majer]] and John Kelly Sr. His paternal grandparents were Irish immigrants, with his grandfather from [[County Mayo]], [[Ireland]]. John Sr. was the son of a farmer; he started his own bricklaying business, "Kelly for Brickwork", and became a multimillionaire.<ref name=tara6>{{cite book |last=Taraborrelli |first=J. Randy |title=Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier |year=2003 |publisher=Warner Books |isbn=0-446-53164-2 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/onceupontime00jran/page/n20 3]–4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/onceupontime00jran }}</ref> His mother's parents were German and emigrated to the United States. Before her marriage, his mother Margaret was a model and competitive swimmer.<ref name="vanityfair">{{cite web |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2010/05/grace-kelly-201005 |title=Grace Kelly's Forever Look |last=Jacobs |first=Laura |date=May 2010 |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref> She converted from [[Protestantism]] to [[Roman Catholicism]] when she married.<ref name=tara6 />{{rp|6}} Kelly's uncle [[George Kelly (playwright)|George Kelly]] was a [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning playwright.

Kelly had an older sister Margaret (born September 1925 and nicknamed "Peggy") and two younger sisters, [[Grace Kelly|Grace]] (born November 1929) and Elizabeth Anne (born June 1933 and nicknamed "Lizanne").<ref name=tara6 /> Kelly's younger sister Grace would go on to become an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning film actress and marry [[Rainier III, Prince of Monaco]] in 1956. Kelly's nephew is Monaco's current monarch [[Albert II, Prince of Monaco|Prince Albert II]]. The children were raised in a 17-room house on 3901 Henry Avenue in [[East Falls, Philadelphia]].

Kelly served in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. He was stationed at the [[United States Naval Training Center Bainbridge]]. Kelly graduated from the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in 1950 and rowed for the varsity team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Penn Biographies: John Brenden Kelly Jr. (1927–1985) |url=http://www.archives.upenn.edu/people/1900s/kelly_john_b_jr.html |publisher=[[University of Pennsylvania|archives.upenn.edu]] |access-date=April 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423203021/http://www.archives.upenn.edu/people/1900s/kelly_john_b_jr.html |archive-date=April 23, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Sports and rowing==
[[File:John B Kelly Jr and Sr 1945.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Kelly with father in 1945]]
A [[Rowing (sport)|rower]] who specialized in the single scull (1x), Kelly represented the [[United States at the Summer Olympics|United States]] at the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] in [[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]; the [[1952 Summer Olympics]] in [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]]; and the [[1956 Summer Olympics]] in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] (winning the bronze medal). In the double scull (2x), he represented the United States at the [[1960 Summer Olympics]] in [[Rome]], [[Italy]]. He also won gold medals at the 1955 and 1959 [[Rowing at the Pan American Games|Pan American Games]]<ref name=sr/> and 1949 European Championships.<ref>[http://www.sport-komplett.de/sport-komplett/sportarten/r/rudern/hst/63.html Rudern - Europameisterschaften (Herren - Einer)]. sport-komplett.de</ref>
[[File:Ens John B Kelly, Jr, USN, 04May1951.jpg|thumb|Ensign, John B. Kelly, Jr., U.S. Navy]]

===Kelly at Henley===
[[File:John B. Kelly Jr 1945c.jpg|thumb|Kelly in 1945]]
Kelly's father [[John B. Kelly Sr.]] won two gold medals at the [[1920 Summer Olympics]], capturing both the [[single scull]] (1x) and the [[double scull]] (2x). The senior Kelly repeated his victory in the double scull at the [[1924 Summer Olympics]].  <!--The events Kelly Sr. won are important if you are familiar with rowing.  Please don't change-->In 1920, despite his accomplishments as a rower, the senior Kelly's entry was rejected at the then most prestigious rowing event in the world, the [[Henley Royal Regatta]]. According to the minutes of the regatta's Committee of Management, Kelly was excluded for two reasons: first, because having worked as a bricklayer he was not eligible under the regatta's then rules on [[amateurism]] (which excluded anyone ''"...who is or ever has been … by trade or employment for wages a mechanic, artisan or labourer"'') and second because he was a member of [[Vesper Boat Club]] which was banned in 1906 after members of their 1905 crew raised money through a public subscription to pay for their travel expenses.<ref>''New York Times'', June 25, 1906</ref> Kelly's exclusion was widely reported in newspapers in both the UK and US, with many seeing it as an attempt to prevent an American from winning the prestigious [[Diamond Challenge Sculls]] event in England.<ref>{{cite book |author=Burnell, Richard |title=Henley Royal Regatta: A celebration of 150 years |publisher=William Heinemann |year=1989 |isbn=0-434-98134-6}}</ref><!--comment:do not delete "working with his hands." It is an important term of art at Henley, e.g., Bobby Pearce, the great Australian sculler's entry to Henley was denied because he was a carpenter, but when he later became a liquor salesperson, his entry was allowed.
--> Only one American, [[Edward Ten Eyck]], had previously won the event, in 1897.

In 1947, Kelly Jr. won the Diamond Challenge Sculls (single scull) at the Henley, the event from which his father had been excluded. In recognition of his accomplishment, Kelly was awarded the 1947 [[James E. Sullivan Award]] as the top amateur athlete in the United States.<ref name="parkcity">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1697&dat=19850304&id=IkoqAAAAIBAJ&pg=6745,934404 |title=Kelly's death leaves friends in sorrow |date=March 4, 1985 |work=Park City Daily News |page=9 |access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref> In 1949 Kelly repeated his feat and again won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley. In 1980, Kelly's sister [[Grace Kelly|Princess Grace of Monaco]] was invited to present the trophies at the Regatta. In 2003, the [[Princess Grace Challenge Cup]] named in her honour was first presented. In 2004, Grace's son (and Kelly's nephew) [[Prince Albert of Monaco]] presented the trophies at the Regatta.

===Kelly at the Olympics===
[[File:Bill Knecht and John B. Kelly Jr 1960.jpg|thumb|Kelly (center) in 1960]]
At the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] in [[London]], Kelly competed on the same Henley course where he had won the Diamond Challenge Sculls the year before.  Kelly won his opening heat, but did not make the finals after finishing second to eventual silver medalist [[Eduardo Risso (rower)|Eduardo Risso]] in the semi-finals.  (Due to course width constrictions, the Henley course could only handle a 3 boat final).

At the [[1952 Summer Olympics]] in [[Helsinki]], Kelly again won his opening heat.  In the semi-final, which was one to qualify, Kelly finished second to eventual champion [[Yuriy Tyukalov]], and Kelly was relegated to the repechage, or second-chance race, which was also one to qualify for the final.  In the [[repechage]], Kelly's main competitor was [[Teodor Kocerka]] of [[Poland]].  They fought all the way down the course with Kocerka, who would go on to win the bronze medal, prevailing in a close finish.<ref name=sr/>

At the [[1956 Summer Olympics]] in [[Melbourne]], Kelly won his Olympic medal, a bronze. He was beaten by two teenage prodigies, [[Vyacheslav Ivanov (rower)|Vyacheslav Ivanov]] of [[Russia]] and [[Stuart Mackenzie]] of [[Australia]], but Kelly beat [[Teodor Kocerka]], who had beaten Kelly four years earlier.<ref name=sr/><!--Comment: Kelly did not win his bronze medal in a vacuum.  Ivanov and MacKenzie are two of the best scullers in history.  Their mention give perspective on Kelly's achievement ;) --> Kelly gave the medal to his sister Grace, who married [[Rainier III, Prince of Monaco|Prince Rainier]] earlier that year, as a wedding present.  He would later quip that he had hoped it would have been a different color.

In [[1960 Summer Olympics|1960]], Kelly competed in the double scull at his final Olympics in [[Rome]]. His boat would be eliminated in the repechage.<ref name=sr/>

===Later career in management===
In 1964, following his retirement from rowing, Kelly acted as manager for the United States Olympic 8-man boat.  It was composed of rowers from the [[Vesper Boat Club]], to which Kelly also belonged.  That boat won a gold medal at the [[1964 Summer Olympics]] in [[Tokyo]].  In 1968, Kelly served as a member of the national committee for the [[modern pentathlon]].

Kelly became a passionate advocate for athletes. He was elected president of the [[Amateur Athletic Union]]<ref name=sr/> in 1970 and stirred controversy by arguing that the amateur code had become outmoded, thereby helping free the Olympics from sham amateurism.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/21/archives/soviet-amateur-athlete-a-real-pro-dr-john-nelson-washburn-is-an.html | title=Soviet Amateur Athlete: A Real Pro | work=The New York Times | date=July 21, 1974 | last1=Washburn | first1=J. N. }}</ref>

In 1974, Kelly headed a group of Philadelphia business men who became owners of the [[Philadelphia Bell]], a franchise in the now defunct [[World Football League]]. Kelly's name and connections were important in giving the franchise legitimacy and in negotiating agreements with the city of Philadelphia. However, as the first season progressed, Kelly stepped aside as the team president in favor of [[John Bosacco]], who owned a controlling interest in the franchise.

In February 1985, Kelly was elected president of the [[United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee|United States Olympic Committee]].<ref>{{cite web |title=John B. Kelly Jr., U.S. Olympic Chief |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/03/sports/john-b-kelly-jr-us-olympic-chief.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=20 March 2020 |date=3 March 1985}}</ref><ref name=sr/> The appointment was short-lived – Kelly died three weeks later.<ref>{{cite book |last=Leigh |first=Wendy |title=True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess |year=2008 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-312-38194-3 |page=220}}</ref> Kelly was posthumously inducted into the [[United States Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame]] as a contributor. Kelly and his father are the only parent-child duo in the Olympic Hall of Fame.

==Business career==
Kelly led John B. Kelly Incorporated, the bricklaying company founded by his father. Kelly also served as director of Lincoln National Bank.<ref name="Penn1">{{cite web |title=John Brenden Kelly, Jr. |url=https://archives.upenn.edu/exhibits/penn-people/biography/john-brenden-kelly-jr/ |website=archives.upenn.edu |publisher=University Archives and Records Center (Penn Libraries, University of Pennsylvania) |access-date=25 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

==Civic leadership and political career==
Kelly was president of the effort to organize a [[world's fair]] in Philadelphia to be held in the [[American Bicentennial]] year of 1976. Kelly served as president and director of the Philadelphia Athletic Club, as well as the director of the [[Pennsylvania Ballet]].<ref name="Penn1"/> For many years, Kelly played the role of George Washington in the annual Christmas Day reenactment of the famous 1776 crossing of the Delaware River. The re-enactors would cross over from Pennsylvania to New Jersey on Christmas afternoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/history/timeline.htm |title=Washington Crossing Historic Park Timeline |publisher=washingtoncrossing.com |access-date=May 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804203647/http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/history/timeline.htm |archive-date=August 4, 2013 }}</ref> As a [[philanthropist]], Kelly regularly gave a significant amount of money to [[charities]]. These charities included several funds belonging to the University of Pennsylvania.<ref name="Penn1"/>

Kelly was actively involved in politics and served for 12 years as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] City Councilman-[[At-large|At-Large]] in [[Philadelphia]] for twelve years, from 1967 to 1979. Kelly also served on the [[Fairmount Park]] Commission.

==Personal life==
Kelly's first wife was [[Mary Freeman (swimmer)|Mary Gray Freeman]] (now known as Mary Spitzer). She was the daughter of Monroe Edward and Christine Gray, the 1951 national women's champion in swimming and a member of the United States swimming team for the 1952 Olympics at Helsinki (she appeared on the cover of ''Life'' on July 23, 1951). They married in 1954<ref name="FirstMarraige" /> and had six children, including John B. Kelly III, Susan von Medicus, and Elizabeth "Liz" Kelly.<ref name=tara340>Taraborrelli 2003 p.340</ref><ref name="gettsburg">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19850304&id=k6oyAAAAIBAJ&pg=1475,5388799 |title=Philadelphia mourns Jack Kelly; dies while jogging |date=March 4, 1985 |work=Gettysburg Times |page=5 |access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref> Kelly and Freeman divorced in 1980.<ref name="gettsburg" />

In 1975, Kelly's well-publicized fling with a trans woman, [[The Queen (1968 film)|Rachel Harlow]], saw some members of the public oppose his candidacy in the mayoral election.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-grace-kelly-of-philadelphia-vol-20-no-10/ | title=Grace Kelly of Philadelphia }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/grace-kelly-brother-affair-transgender/8786d4f1-c320-455a-aa7e-2d379a85d24b | title=The 'scandalous' romance that rocked Grace Kelly's family }}</ref>

On May 28, 1981, Kelly married Sandra Lee Worley, a banker. She was the daughter of Laura Kristine Worley and [[Chief warrant officer|Chief Warrant Officer]] Russell Edwin. They remained married until Kelly's death in 1985.<ref name="gettsburg" /><ref name="goldpaper">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/04/sports/john-b-kelly-jr-dead-at-57-olympic-committee-leader.html |title=John B. Kelly Jr. Dead at 57; Olympic Committee Leader |last=Goldpaper |first=Sam |date=March 4, 1985 |work=New York Times |access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref>

==Death==
On the morning of March 2, 1985, Kelly suffered a fatal [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] while jogging to The Athletic Club in Philadelphia after his customary morning row on the [[Schuylkill River]].<ref name="gettsburg" /> His body was discovered on 18th and Callowhill Street shortly after 9:30 am. Kelly was taken to [[Hahnemann University Hospital]] where he was pronounced dead.<ref name="parkcity" />

Jack Kelly Jr.'s private funeral was held in Philadelphia. Among the attendees were his brother-in-law [[Rainier III, Prince of Monaco]], his nieces [[Caroline, Princess of Hanover|Princess Caroline]] and [[Princess Stéphanie of Monaco|Princess Stéphanie]], his nephew [[Albert II, Prince of Monaco|the-then Prince Albert]], then Philadelphia mayor [[Wilson Goode]] and former Philadelphia mayors [[William J. Green, III]] and [[Frank Rizzo]]. John Kelly Jr. is buried at the [[Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania)|Holy Sepulchre Cemetery]] in [[Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/09/sports/private-services-conducted-for-kelly-us-olympic-chief.html |title=Private Services Conducted For Kelly, U.S. Olympic Chief |date=March 9, 1985 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref>

==Achievements and awards==
* Diamond Scull, Henley Royal Regatta, 1947 and 1949
* [[James E. Sullivan Award]] Winner in 1947
* Member of the US Olympic team in 1948, 1952, 1956, and 1960
* Olympic Bronze Medalist in Single Scull, 1956
* 8-time United States National Champion, single scull
* Member of the US rowing Hall of Fame, elected 1956
* Manager for the 1964 Olympic Gold Medal eight man boat
* President of the United States Olympic Committee
* [[United States Olympic Hall of Fame]], as a contributor
* [[Olympic Order]] in Silver<ref name=sr/>
* City Councilman (Democrat-[[Philadelphia]])

==Legacy==
* [[Kelly Drive]], Philadelphia, formerly East River Drive, was renamed in his honor after his death. [[Boathouse Row]] is located here.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{World Rowing|name=John Kelly Jr.}}
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=jack-kelly-jr}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070626095016/http://www.boathouserow.org/pac/pachist4.html Schuylkill Navy site on Kelly, et al.]
* {{Find a Grave|17693652}}

{{Pan American Champions – Men's single sculls}}{{Pan American Champions – Men's double sculls}}{{Sullivan Award winners}}
{{Presidents of the United States Olympic Committee}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, John B.}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American athlete-politicians]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American sports executives and administrators]]
[[Category:Burials at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery]]
[[Category:James E. Sullivan Award recipients]]
[[Category:Kelly family]]
[[Category:American male rowers]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in rowing]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Democrats]]
[[Category:Philadelphia City Council members]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 1952 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 1960 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:William Penn Charter School alumni]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Catholics from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United States Olympic Committee]]
[[Category:European Rowing Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 1955 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 1959 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1955 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1959 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in rowing]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]