Don Kelly '51

Don Kelly, Class of 1951, was an outstanding track and field athlete and a three-year basketball letterman at Poland High School. As a sophomore, he placed fourth in the state in the shot put. During his junior season, he qualified in three events at the State Meet, helping Poland finish second in the state while placing second in the 880-yard run and discus and fourth in the shot put.

As a senior, Kelly competed in four events at the State Meet, helping lead Poland to the State Championship. He captured the state title in the discus, finished second in the 880-yard run, third in the shot put, and fourth in the mile relay. He set a school record in the shot put and recorded the second-best discus throw in school history. Kelly also earned District Championships in the shot put, discus, 880-yard run, and mile relay, County Championships in those same events, and won the one-mile run at the Mansfield Relays.

In basketball, Kelly was a three-year letterman who graduated as Poland's third all-time leading scorer, a ranking that remained among the school's all-time scoring leaders for many years.