Frank Kelker facts for kids

Frank Leon "Doc" Kelker (born December 9, 1913 – died May 23, 2003) was an amazing athlete. He was an All-American college football player, a talented college basketball player, and a fast track star. He played for Western Reserve, which is now called Case Western Reserve University, from 1935 to 1937.

What makes Doc Kelker truly special is that he played in 54 football games in a row, from high school through college, without his team ever losing! This is a very rare achievement. Because he was an African American athlete, his sports career ended after college. At that time, professional sports did not allow black and white players to play together. This was known as the "color barrier."

Early Life

Frank Kelker was born in Woodville, Florida, in 1913. When he was about five years old, in 1918, his family moved north to Dover, Ohio.

High School Sports Star

Kelker went to Dover High School in Dover, Ohio. People called him "Mr. Everything" because he was so good at many sports. He earned 14 varsity letters, which means he played on the main teams for football, basketball, baseball, and track.

Doc Kelker was the first high school athlete in Ohio to be named All-Ohio in both football and basketball in the same year. This shows how incredibly talented he was.

Football Success

During the three seasons he played football (1931–1933), the Dover team had an amazing record of 30 wins and only 1 loss. They even beat the famous Massillon Tigers team twice. That team was coached by the legendary Paul Brown, who later became a very famous NFL coach. Doc was chosen as the team captain in his final year.

Basketball Champion

As a senior, Doc was a key player on the basketball team. He helped them win the 1933 Ohio basketball state championship. This was a huge win for his school!

Baseball and Track Talents

Kelker also played on the baseball team in 1932 and 1933. He was a great hitter and very fast, stealing many bases. The team had a combined record of 23 wins and 4 losses.

In track, when he was just a ninth grader, he set a school record. He ran the 100-yard dash in an incredible 9.9 seconds!

College Achievements

After high school, Kelker went to Western Reserve, which is now Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland. He continued his amazing sports career there, earning nine more varsity letters in football, basketball, and track.

College Football Record

During his time playing college football, his team had an outstanding record of 27 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie. They won against strong teams like Cornell and West Virginia. In their league, the Big Four Conference, they were perfect, winning all three titles with a 9-0 record.

College Basketball Team

The 1937 basketball team, with Doc Kelker as a player, had a good season with 11 wins and 3 losses. They even beat teams like Syracuse and Cincinnati.

Life After Sports

After graduating from college, Doc Kelker continued to help young people. He first worked as a teacher-in-training and assistant coach at Central High School in Cleveland for two years.

In 1940, he started working at the Cedar Avenue Branch of the Cleveland YMCA. The YMCA is an organization that helps young people grow and learn. Doc became a "youth secretary," which meant he was a mentor and guide for many young black people. Two of the most famous people he mentored were Louis and Carl Stokes, who later became important leaders.

In 1950, Kelker moved to Kansas City to lead the Paseo Branch YMCA as its executive secretary. He returned to Cleveland in 1956 to lead the Cedar Avenue Branch YMCA again. Doc Kelker also helped start Cuyahoga Community College and served as the leader of its board.

Lasting Legacy

To honor his memory and contributions, the Frank "Doc" Kelker Scholarship is given out every year at Case Western Reserve University. This scholarship helps students by "removing barriers" so they can reach their full potential.