Member Biography

Larry Kelley was an innovator, a creator, an adventurer who played end for Yale. Allison Danzig of the New York Times called him a "genius who gets the touchdown regardless of the odds." Against Princeton in 1934, Kelley caught a pass, ran 30 yards and was trapped by two defenders at the goal line. He rammed between them and scored for a 7-0 Yale victory. Again against Princeton in 1936 Yale was down 16-0, rallied to win 26-23. Kelley straight-armed a defender and bulled his way to a crucial touchdown. He played six games against Harvard and Princeton, scored a touchdown in each game, and Yale won five of the games. After the 1936 season he was voted the Heisman Trophy. He was named Most Valuable Player in the East-West Shrine Game. At Yale he was captain of the football and baseball teams, also lettered in basketball and gave the Senior Oration. Lawrence M. Kelley was born in Conneaut, Ohio, May 30, 1915. He attended high school in Williamsport, Pennsylvania then attended Peddie School in New Jersey. After graduating from Yale, he taught math and history at Peddie and Cheshire Schools. He retired in 1975 and moved to Pensacola, Florida.