From humble beginnings

John B Kelly

I can't remember when I first heard the words, 'All men are created equal...' but it found instant agreement in my mind within the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. Those words also came to have great significance for a young man born in Philadelphia around 1900 where the American Delcaration of Independence came into being in July 1776.

The young man in question, John B Kelly, was keen on rowing. Just as well then, that the Schuylkill River ran through Philadephia, where he became a familiar sight. In some parts of the world at that time, rowing was generally considered 'a gentleman's sport'. John Kelly was probably unaware of this, and continued to enjoy the sport, despite his working-class, bricklaying background.

In 1920, John B Kelly was one of the most popular figures in the sport and he had won six U.S. National Championships, and was in the midst of his 126-race winning streak. At the time, the Henley regatta (which is held each year on the River Thames in Henley, England) was the most prestigious  and popular event in rowing. Kelly's application to be involved was rejected in part because he had done manual labour as a bricklayer. Astonishing! The rejection became widely publicised, which led Kelly to try to gain redemption by going to the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, which he had originally not planned to attend.
The authorities did their best in their organisation of the Games and preparing the facilities. Eventually, 29 countries took part, including the newly-independent Czechoslavakia, Estonia and Finland. Those excluded were Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and Turkey. Athletes slept in cots in school rooms, accepting the simple arrangements with good grace.

Attendance numbers at these Games were poor, and the Games themselves were not well documented. We do know, however, that John B Kelly represented the United States of American in rowing, and won a Gold medal in the single sculls, with Jack Beresford of Great Britian winning Silver, and Clarence Hadfield of New Zealand winning Bronze. (New Zealand!!)

And who did this gold-medal-winning, working-class, bricklaying man become? He became a very wealthy man indeed, and the father of Grace Kelly, who married Prince Rainier of Monaco. Here are his achievements and awards:

• Gold Medal, Single Scull, 1920 Olympic Games
• Gold Medal, Double Scull, 1920 Olympic Games
• Gold Medal, Double Scull, 1924 Olympic Games
• 126-race victory string in the single scull
• Self-made millionaire
• Member, United States Olympic Hall of Fame
• Member, United States Rowing Hall of Fame, Single Scull, (elected 1956 at the same time as his son, Jack Jr.)
• Member, United States Rowing Hall of Fame, Double Scull, (elected 1956)
• National Physical Fitness Director (World War II)
• Member Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, (elected in the charter class of 2003 with Wilt Chamberlain, Joe Frazier, Jimmie Foxx, et al.)*

From humble beginnings....

©Dennis Crompton 1992
(first published www.denniscrompton.wordpress.com 2013)
* this information was gleaned from Wikipedia