Chelsea High All-Scholastic
athlete and Indiana University
football great Bob Fee
From By Record Staff to By Tori Ziege
Robert ‘Bob’ Fee Sr. represents a remarkable figure whose accomplishments have faded into the depths of internet obscurity. His narrative cannot be adequately captured through a simple online search or quick headline scan.
Buried beneath search results for Bob Fee the insurance agent and Bob Fee the CEO sits a photograph of our Bob Fee, the Boston Patriot, displayed on a vintage football card. Concealed behind his facemask is an extraordinary account—that of a Chelsea High School alumnus whose path to achievement was shaped by his formative years in Chelsea.
During 1952, Fee dominated the athletic landscape at Chelsea High. A versatile competitor, he excelled in baseball, basketball, track, and football throughout the year. He served as captain of both the football and track teams, and remains the sole Chelsea football player ever selected to the All-American team.
As an All-American and all-scholastic athlete, Fee attracted interest from numerous prestigious universities, among them Michigan, West Point, and Notre Dame. Yet his choice to attend Indiana University proved unexpected for this Massachusetts-born defensive end.
He explained: “fblikebutton_button” “Indiana was a Big Ten school, and at that time, the Big Ten was the best league in the country. I thought it’d be a nice challenge to play in the best league, for a team that didn’t win a lot, and see if I could help them win.” “fblikebutton_button”
While most athletes gravitate toward programs that maximize their individual potential, Fee pursued a different philosophy. He sought to leverage his abilities to strengthen an underperforming program—a value system rooted in his Chelsea High experience.
Fee reflected: “wp-caption alignright” “In high school, I learned from my professors that I’m number two, and everybody else is number one.” “wp-caption alignright”
In 1953, collegiate football players were required to play both offense and defense.
Fee performed as an offensive and defensive end throughout his three seasons at Indiana. His most significant impact, however, came during his senior year when the team’s three previous fullbacks had graduated, leaving a void.
Converting to fullback despite minimal experience at the position, Fee became Indiana’s leading ground gainer in school history that season. His defining moment arrived during the Michigan game against his former recruiter, when Coach Bernie Crimmins assigned him to shadow Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver Ron Kramer.
Rather than positioning Fee in his customary defensive end spot, Crimmins tasked him with trailing Kramer throughout the contest. Fee effectively neutralized the receiver, intercepting two passes intended for Kramer, who would later become an NFL Hall of Famer.
Fee returned his second interception from midfield to the one-yard line, then scored on the subsequent play as a fullback. Following the game, Fee noted that he and Kramer were among the last to leave the field, spending time after the final whistle discussing their performances.
Another Hall of Famer took notice of this Chelsea athlete’s exceptional abilities. During his senior year, Fee caught the game-winning touchdown at the collegiate All-Star game.
The quarterback who threw that pass was Len Dawson, destined to become a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and MVP with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Yet Fee recalled that the All-Star game itself faded from his memory. His attention remained fixed on the sideline, where a group of young hospital patients had been invited as special guests.
One particular child captured Fee’s heart. Before the game began, Fee purchased an ice cream cone for the ten-year-old during warmups, and a teammate photographed the moment.
The connection between patient and player deepened, and they exchanged addresses.
Fee shared: “wp-caption-text” “He wrote to me for six years after that game, and I always answered his letters. I still have the photograph to this day.” “wp-caption-text”
This generosity of spirit defined Fee’s character—consistently prioritizing his relationships with others above personal achievement. Upon graduation, Fee returned to Chelsea and took a three-year break from football. In 1960, the Boston Patriots recruited him.
He stated: “I considered it an honor, for them to draft me after being laid off for three years, and not playing. They were impressed enough with my collegiate career to give me a chance.”
Although Fee was ultimately cut from the Patriots roster, this setback did not discourage him.
He returned to Chelsea High, where he served as head track and football coach for the following decade, repaying the institution that had shaped his foundation.
His most treasured coaching memory occurred in 1980, when the Red Devils mounted a remarkable comeback from a 20-0 deficit to defeat the Crimson Tide of rival Everett High. His nephew, wide receiver Paul Driscoll, orchestrated the turnaround with three touchdowns after Fee identified a favorable matchup involving Driscoll.
This represented the greatest comeback victory in Chelsea High football history, yet the stands were nearly vacant by the third quarter to witness it. Fee noted that Everett possessed a strong program that had consistently defeated Chelsea, making the victory particularly meaningful.
He reflected: “Everett had a good football program; they beat Chelsea all the time. It was an honor to beat them, and everybody was very disappointed they didn’t stay.”
Fee holds membership among the original inductees of the Chelsea High School Hall of Fame.
Now 79 years old, Fee has completed over 31 marathons and qualified three times for the Senior World Olympics in Eugene, Oregon. He spends his days alongside his wife, a Chelsea High sweetheart, who has experienced declining health in recent years.
In an era where information value depends on accessibility, Fee’s legacy reminds us of the rewards found in pursuing forgotten stories. With Chelsea High School’s Hall of Fame reopening, perhaps students will be inspired to uncover the remarkable achievements within their school’s storied history.