James Walter Kennedy (June 8, 1912 - June 26, 1977) was a commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1963 to 1975. He is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Walter J. Kennedy.
Video J. Walter Kennedy
Profile
Initial life
James Walter Kennedy was born in Stamford, Connecticut to Lottie and Michael Kennedy. He was exposed to polio early in life, which made him disabled and therefore could not compete in sports. Nevertheless, he is a huge fan and his entire life and career is devoted to sports, culminating as an NBA commissioner in 1963. As a multi-talented individual, Kennedy works as a high school coach, public relations man and politician. In the late 1930s, he trained very successful teams and became an athletic director at St. Paul's Preparatory School. Basil in Stamford.
He married Marion McRedmond in 1940 with whom he had three children: David, Robert and Kathleen.
In the 1940s, he returned to Notre Dame, his alma mater, to become Director of Sports Information. He then moved to the American Basketball Association as Director of Public Relations, just as the league joined the National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association.
During the 1950s, J. Walter Kennedy traveled the world with Harlem Globetrotters as Director of Publicity. He returned home to Stamford and was elected mayor in 1959 before the NBA owner chose him as president in 1963. The sports complex at Westhill High School in Stamford was named J. Walter Kennedy Sports Complex.
NBA President/Commissioner
Succeeding the first-ever president, Maurice Podoloff, the approachable Kennedy became an iron-hand executive and letting everyone know exactly where he stands on issues. Kennedy quickly used his authority, slapping Red Auerbach with a $ 500 fine for rowdy behavior during the 1963 pre-season game. At that time, it was the biggest fine ever imposed on a coach or player in the NBA. The title was changed to "commissioner" in 1967.
Kennedy was also the commissioner who upheld the NBA's first ever protest, which was filed by the Chicago Bulls for the "Phantom Buzzer Game" against the Atlanta Hawks in 1969.
Kennedy took over the NBA leadership when the league fought with only nine teams, no television contracts, absences and competition from the American Basketball League (1961-1963). When Kennedy retired in 1975 as a commissioner, the league has risen to 18 teams, landed a profitable television contract and improved his financial position significantly, experiencing a 200 percent increase in revenue and attendance figures threefold during his tenure. He came to power in the ABL days, and retired just before the last season of the American Basketball Association.
Walter Kennedy also played a role in bringing the NBA annual game to Springfield to take advantage of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, where he served on the Hall of Fame Supervisory Board for 13 years, two of whom were spent as Hall of Fame's President. Kennedy was inducted into the Hall in 1981.
Kennedy is also quite involved in many social causes, including the Special Olympics, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Boys Boys of Italy. The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is presented annually to NBA players or coaches for exceptional service and dedication to the community. Previous recipients include Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Johnson "Magic", Bob Lanier, Reggie Miller and Glenn "Doc" Rivers.
Death
Kennedy died shortly after his 65th birthday in 1977 due to liver failure after a brief fight with cancer. He was voiced by Howard Cosell and his funeral was attended by many athletes and officials, including Connecticut Governor Ella Grasso, Willis Reed, NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. He survived by his wife and three children (Kathy, David and Robert), as well as 4 Kelly grandchildren (have 5 children) Charlotte, Annie, Peter, Virginia, and Robert), Robert Jr., Paul (has two children Paul jr and Grace ) and Christopher (having two children - Maeve and Griffin). She is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery John in Stamford, Connecticut.
Maps J. Walter Kennedy
References
External links
- Basketball Hall of Fame
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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