Johnny Kelley

One of the people we lost in 2004 who may be overlooked in the year-end specials is Boston's Johnny Kelley. For the longest time - Johnny Kelley was the Boston Marathon much the same way that Red Auerbach was the the Boston Celtics (and still is to many of us).

Kelley won the marathon twice and finished second seven times but he is probably known more for still competing at an advanced age. Kelley ran his last Boston Marathon in 1992 at age 84!

Most of the people I know who weren't serious runners but who ran the marathon always gave the same goal of finishing before Johnny Kelley. He was an inspiration to thousands of strangers.

Kelley was named Runner of the Century by Runner's World magazine in 2000.