This episode of “The Dodge Boys Remember” presents the story of marathoner John J. Kelley who in 1957 became America’s top runner. John Joseph “Johnny” Kelley (December 24, 1930 – August 21, 2011) was the winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon and the marathon at the 1959 Pan American Games and a member of two United States Olympic Marathon teams. He also finished second in the Boston Marathon in 1958. He was often dubbed John “The Younger” to avoid confusion with Johnny “The Elder” Kelley, the winner of the 1935 and 1945 Boston Marathons. (The two men were not related.) After his career as a runner ended, he went on to a successful career as high school running coach. At Fitch High School in Groton, Connecticut, Kelley coached Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon, and Julia Chase, the first woman to successfully challenge the gender barrier of the Amateur Athletic Union. He coached American Power-lifting Champion and world record holder Christopher Annino. In addition to coaching, he found work over the years as a newspaper columnist, freelance writer, cab driver and Kelley’s Pace running wear store co-owner.

The film was sponsored by Dodge and features ads for the 1964 Dodge Dart at 6:00 and 10:30, including a campaign to have Ford drivers trade in their cars for Dodge makes.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com