Jack Kelly Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps as an elite rower, competing in four Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in the single sculls at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games.
After his successful rowing career, Kelly ran the bricklaying business that Jack Kelly Sr. had created, served 12 years on the Philadelphia City Council and became a prominent amateur sports administrator. Kelly’s positions included president of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and chairman of the Philadelphia Athletic Committee.
Kelly eventually was selected president of the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1985.
But three weeks after Kelly was elected, during his customary morning run, he suffered a heart attack and died. He was 57 years old.
”He was an irreplacable asset to the Olympic movement.” said William E. Simon, Kelly’s predecessor as USOC president.
