Jack L. Kennedy Sr., 87 years old passed away at Via Christi Village on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Communication and Education are more than words on Jack L. Kennedy’s business card.
The Pittsburg broadcast newsman, print media education writer, high school and university educator, online book review editor and mentor built a life before and after retirement on communicating, listening and educating in broad sense for everyone, with balance, open heart and mind.
He was born on October 16, 1934 to Claude and Evadene (Jones) Kennedy of Galena, KS. Following his mother’s death in 1935, he was raised and nurtured by his grandmother, Nellie Kennedy, Joplin, Missouri. He graduated from Joplin High School in 1952.
At what later became Pittsburg State University, Kennedy would be Collegio newspaper editor and Bennett Journalism Trophy winner. He received a bachelor of education degree with speech-journalism majors in 1956. He worked for WMBH 1450 and KFSB 1310 in news and announcing, and was a Galena High School faculty member for a year. Kennedy was editor of the Southwestern weekly in Joplin for a time; he then joined the Pittsburg Sun news staff for three years before moving to the Wichita Eagle for nine years, and the Lincoln Nebraska Journal for 23 years as an education writer, retiring from the post in 1996. With wife Jo and Jack Jr., the three returned to Pittsburg where he was on the PSU adjunct English faculty until 2006, he then became book review editor online for the Joplin Independent through 2016.
Kennedy received awards from the International Education Writers Association and was EWA president 1974-1977. He also has received awards from other groups and had written for the London Times, New York Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, Education Week and federal/national reports.
He coauthored a book, The White Star, on John White Geary Kennedy, a charter member of Tau Kappa Epsilon at PSU and a former vestry board member at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Pittsburg, KS.
Survivors include his son Jack L. Kennedy Jr and wife, Sandra Kennedy of Liberal, MO, and their daughter Mykala Kennedy of Springfield, MO.
A Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 16th, 2021 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Brenner Mortuary. A Prayer Service will follow the Visitation. Memorial donations can be made to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 306 W. Euclid Street, Pittsburg, KS 66762. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS.
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