NEWTON — Andover native Dick Kelley won the prestigious U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Most Courageous Award.
Kelley, 48, has been a sports information director for 22 years at Boston College, from where he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He will be honored before the BC-Virginia Tech game on March 3.
The award is presented annually by the USBWA to honor athletes, coaches. officials or administrators who have demonstrated extraordinary courage while facing adversity. Kelley has been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) since 2011.
”I am overwhelmed and very grateful for this amazing honor,” wrote Kelley when told of the honor. “I have never sought recognition but rather did what I did because I loved my job and everyone I had the privilege of working with.”
Kelley’s impact in the Boston College community has been profound. He’s impacted hundreds of athletes with his caring nature. He’s been a godsend to media members, many working under deadline pressure, as the liaison with the BC athletes and coaches.
Kelley is known for being a tireless worker and unabashedly bleeds Maroon and Gold. Scores of athletes, coaches and media members have been touched by his dignified battle with ALS. Congratulations came pouring in from top media members around the country like ESPN’s Dana O’Neil, CBS Sports’ Jeff Goodman and Yahoo’s Pat Forde.
Goodman called him “as good a person as I’ve ever met.”
But Kelley was always equally concerned with the “little guy” and congratulations came in from media outlets small and large throughout New England.
In November Kelley was the first recipient of Boston College’s Varsity Club medal. The USBWA female courage honoree was Oakland University coach Beckie Francis, who went public with years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father.
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