Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame Inductees:
ALLEN AND DEAN KELLEY
The Kelley
brothers, Allen and Dean, brought national and international recognition to
Peoria during their playing days with the Caterpillar team and their
performances as members of the U.S. Olympic basketball teams. The Kelleys,
honored by the U.S. Olympic Committee prior to the Los Angeles Games in 1984,
are two of 15 area citizens who have taken part in the Games.
Dean helped Kansas win the 1952 NCAA tournament and then played against
Caterpillar in New York in a game said to be "the Olympic playoff tournament
championship." Kelley scored 13 points against Caterpillar, then known as the
Diesels but Cat won 62-60. Kansas, as NCAA champs, sent five players into the
Helsinki Olympics including Kelley. Dean then started on four outstanding
Caterpillar teams, starting in 1956.
Allen, also played at Kansas, scored 20 points against Indiana in a losing
effort in the 1953 NCAA championship game and then joined Caterpillar in 1955.
He rejoined them in 1957 and played through 1960, making the 1960 U.S. Olympic
team for the Rome games. The Kelleys made Caterpillar the power of the AAU
League.