John Adelbert Kelley (September 6, 1907 – October 6, 2004) 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.
In 1936, Kelley overtook Ellison "Tarzan" Brown near Heartbreak Hill,[a] giving him a consolatory pat on the shoulder as he passed.
At age 70, Kelley was still running 50 miles (80 km) a week and around 15 races a year.
[6] Kelley ran his last full marathon at Boston in 1992 at the age of 84, his 61st start and 58th finish there.
[9] Kelley died in 2004 at age 97; he is buried in Quivet Neck Cemetery in East Dennis, Massachusetts.