Ellison Lamar Kelly (May 17, 1935 – February 11, 2016) was an American and Canadian footballoffensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1960–1970 and the Toronto Argonauts from 1971-1972 of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants. Kelly never missed a game in his 12 seasons in the CFL, playing 175 consecutive games. Kelly usually played guard or tackle, but the versatile performer also provided depth at the defensive end and linebacker positions. Teammates recall him as being a tough, solid competitor, even when injured. He won three Grey Cups for the Tiger-Cats in 1963, 1965 & 1967 and played in the 1971 Grey Cup with the Argonauts.
Kelly was drafted in the fifth round of the 1959 NFL Draft by the Giants after a stellar career at Michigan State University, but he opted to go to Canada to play in the CFL in his second season.
Kelly is one of the few football players to have a race horse named after him. "Wildcat Kelly" was a gelding pacer in the stable of Yellow and Black farms of Hamilton, a partnership of Dill (Pickles) Southwick, a former quarterback for the Hamilton Tigers, and businessmen Bruce Woodward and George Ridpath. (Yellow and Black were the colours of the Tiger Cats.) As of 1970, the six-year-old "Wildcat Kelly" had won $14,000 in its lifetime.[1]
Kelly was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He spent his entire post-football life in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, first as a teacher with the Hamilton Board of Education, and later as a Recreations Officer with the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, where he was regarded as a gentle giant and a gentleman. He was a frequent guest on Tiger Cat alumni days and was asked to speak on many occasions. His speeches were often dominated by a spiritual appreciation and gratitude for the wonderful life and opportunities he had been given. He continued to live in Hamilton until his death in 2016.[2]
Referencesedit
^"Ticats set example for Wildcat Kelly; 1st win of season", Toronto Globe and Mail, Wednesday 14 October 1970, p. 34.
^"Goodbye, Mr. Kelly: Ticats legend dies". thespec.com.
This biographical article relating to a Canadian football offensive lineman is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
ellison, kelly, ellison, lamar, kelly, 1935, february, 2016, american, canadian, football, offensive, lineman, hamilton, tiger, cats, from, 1960, 1970, toronto, argonauts, from, 1971, 1972, canadian, football, league, also, played, national, football, league, . Ellison Lamar Kelly May 17 1935 February 11 2016 was an American and Canadian football offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger Cats from 1960 1970 and the Toronto Argonauts from 1971 1972 of the Canadian Football League CFL He also played in the National Football League NFL for the New York Giants Kelly never missed a game in his 12 seasons in the CFL playing 175 consecutive games Kelly usually played guard or tackle but the versatile performer also provided depth at the defensive end and linebacker positions Teammates recall him as being a tough solid competitor even when injured He won three Grey Cups for the Tiger Cats in 1963 1965 amp 1967 and played in the 1971 Grey Cup with the Argonauts Ellison KellyDate of birth 1935 05 17 May 17 1935Place of birthButler Georgia U S Date of deathFebruary 11 2016 2016 02 11 aged 80 Place of deathHamilton Ontario CanadaCareer informationCFL statusNationalPosition s G OTHeight6 ft 3 in 191 cm Weight250 lb 110 kg US collegeMichigan StateHigh schoolSandusky High SchoolNFL draft1959 Round 5 Pick 59Drafted byNew York GiantsCareer historyAs player1959New York Giants1960 1970Hamilton Tiger Cats CFL 1971 1972Toronto Argonauts CFL Career highlights and awards2 First team All Big Ten 1957 1958 CFL All Star1964 1969 1970 1971CFL East All Star1961 1964 1968 1971Career statsPlaying stats at NFL comPlaying stats at DatabaseFootball comCanadian Football Hall of Fame 1992 Kelly was drafted in the fifth round of the 1959 NFL Draft by the Giants after a stellar career at Michigan State University but he opted to go to Canada to play in the CFL in his second season Kelly is one of the few football players to have a race horse named after him Wildcat Kelly was a gelding pacer in the stable of Yellow and Black farms of Hamilton a partnership of Dill Pickles Southwick a former quarterback for the Hamilton Tigers and businessmen Bruce Woodward and George Ridpath Yellow and Black were the colours of the Tiger Cats As of 1970 the six year old Wildcat Kelly had won 14 000 in its lifetime 1 Kelly was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1992 He spent his entire post football life in Hamilton Ontario Canada first as a teacher with the Hamilton Board of Education and later as a Recreations Officer with the Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre where he was regarded as a gentle giant and a gentleman He was a frequent guest on Tiger Cat alumni days and was asked to speak on many occasions His speeches were often dominated by a spiritual appreciation and gratitude for the wonderful life and opportunities he had been given He continued to live in Hamilton until his death in 2016 2 References edit Ticats set example for Wildcat Kelly 1st win of season Toronto Globe and Mail Wednesday 14 October 1970 p 34 Goodbye Mr Kelly Ticats legend dies thespec com nbsp This biographical article relating to a Canadian football offensive lineman is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This biographical article relating to an American football offensive lineman born in the 1930s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ellison Kelly amp oldid 1220990832, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
