Family tree of John B. KELLY, SR
Rowing
Born John Brendan KELLY
American oarsman, triple Olympic Gold Medal winner
Born on October 4, 1889 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , United States
Died on June 20, 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , United States
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In 1908, he began bricklaying in Philadelphia and he also learned to row on the Schuylkill River. By 1916, Kelly was a national champion and the best sculler in the United States when, as part of the World War I call up, Kelly joined United States Army as a private. He rose to the rank of lieutenant when he was discharged in 1918. While in the army, he entered the armed forces boxing tournament as a heavyweight and ran up a 12-0 record before being waylaid by a broken ankle. Future World Professional Boxing Champion Gene Tunney won the tournament. In later years, Kelly would kid Tunney that: "Aren't you lucky I broke my ankle?"
... Kelly was one of 10 children born to John Henry Kelly, an Irish immigrant from Newport, County Mayo, Ireland who came to the United States in 1869, and his wife Mary Anne Costello, also a native of Ireland who arrived in the U.S. in 1867.
In 1908, he began bricklaying in Philadelphia and he also learned to row on the Schuylkill River. By 1916, Kelly was a national champion and the best sculler in the United States when, as part of the World War I call up, Kelly joined United States Army as a private. He rose to the rank of lieutenant when he was discharged in 1918. While in the army, he entered the armed forces boxing tournament as a heavyweight and ran up a 12-0 record before being waylaid by a broken ankle. Future World Professional Boxing Champion Gene Tunney won the tournament. In later years, Kelly would kid Tunney that: "Aren't you lucky I broke my ankle?"
Following his army discharge in 1918, Kelly continued his dominance in the single scull and started a brickwork contracting company in Philadelphia and was on his way to becoming a millionaire. A self-promoter, Kelly coined the slogan, "Kelly for Brickwork," which was often seen at local construction sites.
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Geographical origins
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