John J. Kelley, American Olympic long-distance runner, winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon, died he was 80.

John Joseph Kelley  was the winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon and the marathon at the 1959 Pan American Games and a member of two United States Olympic Marathon teams. He was often dubbed John "The Younger" to avoid confusion with Johnny "The Elder" Kelley, the winner of the 1935 and 1945 Boston Marathons. The two men were not related.

(December 24, 1930 – August 21, 2011)

Kelley was born in Norwich, Connecticut. He began racing in marathons during his college years. From 1950-54, he attended Boston University, located about a mile from the Boston Marathon finish line. While there, he excelled in team races and would run his first two Boston Marathons, in 1953 and 1954. He finished fifth in the 1953 race before following up with a 7th place finish the next year. After graduating, he finished 2nd in the 1956 Boston Marathon and made his way onto the U.S. Olympic Marathon team which competed in Melbourne, Australia during the same year. He would go on to win the Boston Marathon outright in 1957 while setting a new course record on the remeasured course.
After his win at Boston, Kelley would win several other marathons, including eight consecutive wins of the Yonkers Marathon in Yonkers, New York.^[2] As a result of his record setting performance at Yonkers in 1960, he again found his way onto the U.S. Olympic Marathon team and competed in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. He placed 21st and 19th in the Melbourne and Rome Olympic marathons, respectively.

John J. Kelley's Boston Marathons

1953 2:28:19 5th 1954 2:28:51 7th 1956 2:14:33 2nd 1957 2:20:05 1st 1958 2:30:51 2nd 1959 2:23:43 2nd 1960 DNF 1961 2:23:54 2nd 1962 2:28:37 4th 1963 2:21:09 2nd 1964 2:27:23 7th 1965 2:25:23 14th 1967 2:25:25 12th 1968 2:37:03 15th 1969 2:31:36 22nd 1970 2:36:50 63rd

1971 2:44:10 96th 1972 2:40:05 79th 1973 2:41:13 66th 1974 2:32:18 78th 1975 2:34:11 169th 1976 2:46:43 154th 1977 2:46:26 353rd 1980 2:55:45 1982 2:55:50 1983 2:55:30 1984 2:58:35 1986 3:01:40 1987 3:08:46 1988 3:28:53 1989 3:46:50 1992 4:07:32

Trivia

Kelley is the only runner to ever win both the Boston Marathon and the Mount Washington Road Race, which he won in 1961. He made the ascent in one hour and 8 minutes 54 seconds, nearly seven minutes faster than the winning times in the three previous years the race had been held, 1936-1938.

Later years

After his career as a runner ended, he went on to a successful career as high school running coach. At Fitch High School in Groton, Connecticut, Kelley coached Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon. In addition to coaching, he found work over the years as a newspaper columnist, free lance writer, cab driver and running wear store co-owner.

Personal life

Kelley married Jacinta C. Braga in 1953, and together they had three children, Julia, Kathleen, and Eileen.


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George C. Axtell, American military officer, United States Marine Corps lieutenant-general, died he was 90.

Lieutenant General George C. Axtell was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general, a World War II ace, and Navy Cross recipient for heroism during the Battle of Okinawa died he was 90.. During World War II, he was also the youngest commanding officer of a Marine Fighter Squadron.^[2]

Biography

(November 29, 1920 – August 20, 2011)

Axtell was born in the Pittsburgh suburb of Ambridge, Pennsylvania on 29 November 1920 and graduated from high school there in 1938. He attended the University of Alabama before enlisting in the Marine Corps in July 1940 as a Marine Aviation Cadet. He held a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Master of Arts degree (Comptroller) from George Washington University.
Axtell was assigned to flight school and was commissioned as a second lieutenant and designated a Naval Aviator in May 1941. From May until December 1941, he was an instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola, and then was transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy's Postgraduate School where he studied meteorological engineering, graduating in March 1943. He was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1942, and to captain in August 1942.
Promoted to major in May 1943, Axtell saw duty from that July until June 1945, as Commanding Officer, Marine Fighter Squadron 323 (VMF-323), from the date of its formation at Cherry Point, North Carolina, and then throughout the Okinawa campaign. During the Okinawa campaign, VMF-323 scored 124 enemy planes. Following the Okinawa campaign, he was assigned as the Commanding Officer, Marine Carrier Air Group-16, operating from the USS Badoeng Strait. Following the deactivation of MCVG-16 in March 1946, he served as Commanding Officer, VMF-452 until the following January.
Axtell completed the Junior Course at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, early in 1947, and began his first tour of duty at Headquarters Marine Corps as Naval Aviator Detail Officer, followed by a two-year tour with the Judge Advocate General's Office. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in January 1951.
In 1952, Axtell was ordered to Korea where he took part in combat with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as Tactical Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12, and later, as Commanding Officer of Marine Attack Squadron 312. He served next with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point, North Carolina, as Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, for a year, then as Commanding Officer, Marine Air Control Group 1. In 1955, Axtell reported to Headquarters Marine Corps for four years' duty as Assistant Head of Aviation Training and Distribution Branch, and Head of Program Planning, Division of Aviation. He was promoted to colonel in July 1959.
From 1959 until 1960, Axtell served in Japan as 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Legal Officer and, later, as Commanding Officer, MAG-12. Returning to MCAS, Cherry Point, for a three-year period, he was initially assigned as 2nd Wing Legal Officer and then reassigned as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3.
After completing the National War College, Washington, D.C., in June 1964, Axtell was assigned as Chief of Staff, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. Ordered to the Far East in September 1965, he served as Chief of Staff, III Marine Amphibious Force, and was awarded his first Legion of Merit with Combat "V," for service in this capacity.


During March 1966, he organized and commanded the Force Logistics Command, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, located in the Republic of Vietnam. A second Legion of Merit with Combat "V" was awarded him for exceptionally meritorious conduct during this assignment.
Upon his return to the United States in December 1966, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps. For his service as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, from December 1966 until June 1970, he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of his third Legion of Merit. He was promoted to major general on 7 August 1969.
From late June 1970 to March 1972, he served as Commanding General, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, North Carolina.
On 10 March 1972, it was announced that President Nixon had nominated Axtell for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general and assignment as the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, in Norfolk, Virginia. He was advanced to three-star rank on 1 April 1972. He received the Distinguished Service Medal upon his retirement on 1 September 1974.

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Reza Badiyi, Iranian-born American television director (Mission: Impossible, The Six Million Dollar Man), died at 81.

Reza Sayed Badiyi was an Iranian-American film director. Badiyi was well known for directing episodes of many popular (and quite distinct) television series. His credits also include developing the memorable opening montages (title visualization) for Hawaii Five-O, Get Smart, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

(April 17, 1930 – August 20, 2011) 

Early life and education

Badiyi was born April 17, 1930, in Arak, Iran. His parents were from Isfahan. He graduated from the Academy of Drama in Iran. He moved to the United States in 1955. He graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in film making.

Career

After Syracuse University Badiyi often worked with Robert Altman. Badiyi was assistant director on the low-budget 1957 film "The Delinquents," which marked Altman's feature film debut as a director.
Early in his career, he directed episodes of Get Smart, Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, The Incredible Hulk, Mannix, The Six Million Dollar Man, Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files and Police Squad!. He also directed the definitive "fashion show" sequence of the third season of the popular "Doris Day Show". There were lowlights, as well, including directing the unsold pilot for "Inside O.U.T.", starring Farrah Fawcett and a chimp for Colombia/Screen Gems in 1971.
In the 1980s and 1990s, he directed episodes of Falcon Crest, Cagney and Lacey, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the episode "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"), Le Femme Nikita, Sliders and Baywatch.

Awards

On October 2008, Badiyi received the Lifetime Achievement Award (Persian Golden Lioness) in dramatic arts from The World Academy of Arts Literature and Media - WAALM
On May 2010, Badiyi was honored at UCLA for his 80th birthday and his 60th year in the entertainment industry.

Personal life

Badiyi was once married to actress and writer Barbara Turner and was thus for a time the stepfather of actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. He was the father of Mina Badie.

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Reza Sayed Badiyi Iranian-American film director died he was 81

Reza Sayed Badiyi  was an Iranian-American film director. Badiyi was well known for directing episodes of many popular (and quite distinct) television series. His credits also include developing the memorable opening montages (title visualization) for Hawaii Five-O, Get Smart, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

(April 17, 1930 – August 20, 2011)

Early life and education

Badiyi was born April 17, 1930, in Arak, Iran. His parents were from Isfahan. He graduated from the Academy of Drama in Iran. He moved to the United States in 1955. He graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in film making.

Career

After Syracuse University Badiyi often worked with Robert Altman. Badiyi was assistant director on the low-budget 1957 film "The Delinquents," which marked Altman's feature film debut as a director.
Early in his career, he directed episodes of Get Smart, Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, The Incredible Hulk, Mannix, The Six Million Dollar Man, Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files and Police Squad!. He also directed the definitive "fashion show" sequence of the third season of the popular "Doris Day Show". There were lowlights, as well, including directing the unsold pilot for "Inside O.U.T.", starring Farrah Fawcett and a chimp for Colombia/Screen Gems in 1971.
In the 1980s and 1990s, he directed episodes of Falcon Crest, Cagney and Lacey, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the episode "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"), Le Femme Nikita, Sliders and Baywatch.

Awards

On October 2008, Badiyi received the Lifetime Achievement Award (Persian Golden Lioness) in dramatic arts from The World Academy of Arts Literature and Media - WAALM
On May 2010, Badiyi was honored at UCLA for his 80th birthday and his 60th year in the entertainment industry.

Personal life

Badiyi was once married to actress and writer Barbara Turner and was thus for a time the stepfather of actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. He was the father of Mina Badie.


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Ross Barbour, American singer, last founding member of The Four Freshmen, died from lung cancer he was 82.

Ross Edwin "Ross" Barbour was an American singer with the vocal quartet The Four Freshmen died from lung cancer he was 82..

(December 31, 1928 – August 20, 2011) 

The Four Freshmen originated in early 1948 when brothers Ross and Don Barbour, then at Butler University's Arthur Jordan Conservatory in Indianapolis, Indiana, formed a barbershop quartet called Hal's Harmonizers. The Harmonizers also included Marvin Pruitt — soon replaced by Ross and Don's cousin Bob Flanigan — and Hal Kratzsch (1925–70), replaced in 1953 by Ken Errair. The quartet soon adopted a more jazz-oriented repertoire and renamed itself the Toppers. At first, they were influenced by Glenn Miller's The Modernaires and Mel Tormé's Mel-Tones, but soon developed their own style of improvised vocal harmony. In September 1948, the quartet went on the road as The Four Freshmen, and soon drew the admiration of jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie and Woody Herman.
In 1950, The Four Freshmen got a break when band leader Stan Kenton heard the quartet in Dayton, Ohio, and arranged for an audition with his label, Capitol Records, which signed The Four later that year. In 1952, they released their first hit single "It's a Blue World". Further hits included "Mood Indigo" in 1954, "Day by Day" in 1955, and "Graduation Day" in 1956.
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, The Four Freshmen released a number of recordings, made film and television appearances, and performed in concert. The group eventually lost their mainstream following with the advent of the British pop bands of the 1960s. After Barbour's retirement in 1977, the Freshmen continued under the management of Flanigan, who kept the rights to The Four Freshmen name. Flanigan died on May 15, 2011 at the age of 84.
Barbour died of cancer on August 20, 2011, aged 82.^[1]


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Surinder Kapoor, Indian film producer, died from cardiac arres he was 86.

Surinder Kapoor was a Bollywood film producer and President of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India from 1995 to 2001.

(23 December 1925 – 24 September 2011) 

His three sons, Boney, Anil and Sanjay, are also involved in the film industry. He was born in Peshawar, British India. His daughter, Reena, is married to Sandeep Marwah of Marwah Films & Video Studios.
He started his film career as a secretary to Bollywood star of the 1960s Geeta Bali.^[1] The Dada Saheb Phalke Academy honoured the veteran producer with the L.V. Prasad Phalke Award in 2009.^[2]
He died after suffering a cardiac arrest on 24 September 2011.^[3][4]

Filmography

• Pukar, producer
• No Entry (2005), producer
• Bhooka Sher (2001), director and producer
• Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000), producer
• Judaai (1997), producer
• Loafer (1996), producer
• Thanedarni (1994), director
• Woh Saat Din (1983), producer
• Hum Paanch (1980), producer
• Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan (1978), producer
• Ponga Pandit (1975), Producer utv

Bikash Rao

• Shehzada (1972), producer
• Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati (1969), producer
• Tarzan Comes to Delhi (1965), producer
• Mughal-E-Azam (1960), assistant director

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B. Jeff Stone, American rockabilly singer-songwriter, died he was 75.

B. Jeff Stone was an American rockabilly and country singer and songwriter  died he was 75.. After first recording in the 1950s, he achieved particular success in Europe from the 1990s onward, and was inducted to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

(24 April 1936 – 26 August 2011)

He was born in San Antonio, Texas, and began playing guitar at the age of eight. He first recorded in 1954 for the SARG company in Luling, Texas, before winning a regular slot on radio station KBOP in Pleasanton, Texas with his group, the Texas Cut-Ups. Following a period in the US Air Force, he returned to San Antonio and formed a new group, initially called the Westernairs. After recording a country hit single, "Hey, Little Newsboy", the band changed their name to the Newsboys. In the late 1960s, he started a solo career and toured with Marty Robbins, Willie Nelson, and others.^[1]
After giving up performances in the mid 1970s, he started a construction company, moving from Fort Worth to live in Corsicana in 1985. In 1995, he decided to record again, and his traditionally-styled country album Everybody Loves Me and single "A Good Woman's Love" became successful in Europe, where he toured. He recorded several further albums, Something's Going On (1996), Texas Country (1998), Stone Country (1999) and Stone Tradition (2000), and had one of his biggest single hits in 1997 with "Hello, Mr. Heartache".^[1]
Stone died at the age of 75 in Tyler, Texas.^[2]


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