Charles "Bud" Kelley (1941-1943)
"Bud" Kelley was one of Marblehead's finest ends, named a member of the North Shore All Star teams in both 1942 and 1943. He played for Coach George Moriarty in 1941 and 1942. In 1943, Lt. Moriarty, in the Naval Reserves, was called to active duty on October 15th after three games, and was succeeded by Ralph Hewitt as Head Coach. MHS had one of its finest teams in 1942. Led by the running of Ed Barry and 'Chipper" Chapman, the team won nine games, lost none and was tied by Gloucester (0-0) and Swampscott (7-7). Kelley was a two-way regular, but missed the Thanksgiving tie-game classic and the All-Star game because of illness.
The two returning starters - Chapman and Kelley - led the 1943 team in scoring with 57 and 27 points respectively. After a disappointing start, with shutout losses to Peabody and Amesbury, the Magicians won six straight, before losing to Saugus 7-6 and to powerful NEC Champion Swampscott (8-1 overall) 32-0, to finish 6-4. Kelley was described as a "phenomenal pass-catching end' and was often double-teamed by the opposition. He was also a fine runner, blocker and defensive player. In what was billed as a classic Alex Destino -*Chipper' Chapman match-up at Gloucester, Kelley leveled Gloucester quarterback Kerepka at mid field with a block that permitted Chapman to cover 100 yards with a goal-line interception, the key play in a 13-0 victory. Overall, Kelley caught four touchdown passes and three conversions, and was regarded as the 'best end on the North Shore'.
'Bud" Kelley also played baseball at MHS under coaches Moriarty, Hewitt and Robarts.
He is a 1949 graduate of The College of Holy Cross and served in the U.S. Navy from 1952-1958 as a lieutenant.
Robert Radcliffe (1958-1960)
Bob Radcliffe caught twelve of Tommy Manning's single season record 25 touchdown passes in 1960, helping to lead the Magicians to an 8-1 record and the Northeastern Conference (NEC) title (6-1). He was the leading scorer in the NEC with 80 points (eleven touchdowns and seven two-point conversions). This was the third highest total points scored in the Conference since its beginning in 1934, and the first time that the total point leader was an end.
Bob Radcliffe was a member of Coach Herm Hussey's last MHS squad in 1958 as a sophomore, and played for new head Coach Noel Reebenacker as a junior in 1959. As offensive right end in 1960 at 6'4' and 190 pounds, he was an inviting target for the pass-oriented 1960 team. Led by the passing of Manning, who broke the mythical Harry Aggainis' then season record of 19 touchdown passes, and the running of "Jake' Healy, the team scored 276 points, the highest season total in MHS history. Radcliffe also was a defensive end and a backfield backup.
Memorable victories during the year were 18-14 over Salem, 32-8 over a fine Woburn team and 12-6 on Thanksgiving. The only defeat, in what would have been Marblehead's only perfect season, was a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to Danvers in the final minute on a controversial point-after conversion kick.
Radcliffe finished his high school football career in fine fashion on Thanksgiving in a tough 12-6 win. He was credited with blocking a conversion pass after Swampscott's initial game-opening scoring drive, caught a 17 yard scoring pass from Manning in the second period to tie the game, and finally caught a game-winning 4th down on the one yard line pass in the end zone, with only four minutes left, to clinch the game and the NEC title.
Colonel Radcliffe is a 1965 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he was a varsity lacrosse player for three years, and was highly rated as an excellent stick handler and defensive player. He has been a career Army officer since graduation.