Walter Kennedy (NBA)

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Walter Kennedy

J. Walter Kennedy (born in Stamford, Connecticut, June 8, 1912 – June 26, 1977) was the Commissioner of the National Basketball Association from 1963 until 1975. He is occasionally (mistakenly) referred to as Walter J. Kennedy.

[edit] Profile

James Walter Kennedy was born in Stamford, CT in 1912 to Lottie and Michael Kennedy. He was striken with polio early on, which left him with a disability and therefore unable to compete in sports. Nonetheless, he was an avid fan and his entire life and career was devoted to sports, coming to a pinnacle as the NBA commissioner in 1963. A multi-talented individual, Kennedy worked as a high school coach, public relations man and politician. In the late 1930s, Kennedy coached highly successful teams and was athletic director at St. Basil's Preparatory School in Stamford, Connecticut.

He married Marion McRedmond in 1940 and subsequently had 3 children: David, Robert and Kathleen.

In the 1940s, he returned to Notre Dame, his alma mater, to become its sports information director. He then moved on to the Basketball Association of America as the public relations director, just as the league was merged with the National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association.

During much of the 1950s J. Walter Kennedy toured the world with the Harlem Globetrotters as the publicity director. He returned home to Stamford and was elected mayor in 1959 before the NBA owners voted him to the commissioner's office in 1963. The sports complex at Westhill High School in Stamford is named The J. Walter Kennedy Sports Complex.

Succeeding first commissioner Maurice Podoloff, the likable, approachable Kennedy became an ironhanded executive and let everyone know precisely where he stood on issues. Kennedy quickly exerted his authority, slapping Red Auerbach with a $500 fine for rowdy conduct during a pre-season 1963 game. At the time, it was the largest fine ever levied against a coach or player in the NBA.

The new commissioner came into the NBA when the league was struggling with only nine teams, no television contract and sagging attendance. When Kennedy retired in 1975 as commissioner, the league had increased to 18 teams, landed a lucrative television contract and improved its financial standing considerably, experienced a 200 percent boost in income and attendance figures tripled during his tenure

Walter Kennedy was also instrumental in bringing an annual NBA game to Springfield to benefit the Basketball Hall of Fame, where he served on Hall of Fame's Board of Trustees for 13 years, including 2 years as the Hall of Fame's President. Kennedy himself would be inducted into the Hall in 1981.

J. Walter Kennedy understood the importance of public exposure serving as Public Relations Director, before becoming commissioner.

Kennedy was also quite involved in many social causes, including the Special Olympics, National Multiple Scelrosis Society and Boys' Town of Italy. The J. Walter Kennedy Community Service Award is presented annually to an NBA player or coach for outstanding service and dedication to the community. Past recipients include Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Bob Lanier, Reggie Miller and Doc Rivers.

He died in shortly after his 65th birthday in 1977 after a brief bout with cancer. He was eulogized by Howard Cosell and his funeral was attanded by many athletes and dignitaries, including the Governor of CT Ella Grasso, Willis Reed, NBA Commissioner Larry O'Brien and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. He was survived by his wife and 3 children, as well as 4 grandchildren Kelly, Robert, Paul and Christopher. He is buried in Stamford, CT.