James "Radio" Kennedy

James "Radio" Kennedy (October 14, 1946 – December 15, 2019) was an American man with an intellectual disability who was known for his association with the T. L. Hanna High School football team in Anderson, South Carolina.[1] He first gained prominence in 1996 when Gary Smith wrote an article about Kennedy for Sports Illustrated titled "Someone to Lean On."[1][2] Kennedy's story was then made into a feature film in 2003 titled Radio in which he was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr..[3][4][5][6]

Radio Kennedy
Born
James Kennedy

October 14, 1946
Anderson, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedDecember 15, 2019 (aged 73)
Anderson, South Carolina, U.S.
Known forAssociation with the T. L. Hanna High School football team;
Subject of Radio

Biography

James Robert Kennedy was born on October 14, 1946 in Anderson to parents Bill Kennedy and Janie Mae Bolden Greenlee.[2][7] He had two brothers, George and Walter.[2]

According to Sheila Hilton, the former principal of T.L. Hanna High, Kennedy earned the nickname "Radio" in the mid-1960s when he began to show up at the school football field with a transistor radio.[8][9] In 1964, Kennedy befriended the high school's then football coach Harold Jones.[10] Their friendship served as the basis of the 2003 film Radio starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Kennedy and Ed Harris as Jones.[3] In 1965, Kennedy became an unofficial 11th-grade student at T.L. Hannah High.[11] Kennedy was considered a permanent high school junior, meaning that he would never graduate or have to leave.[2]

In 2006, a statue of Kennedy was unveiled at the football stadium of T.L. Hanna High School.[12] In 2016, Kennedy was inducted into the T.L. Hanna Athletic Hall of Fame.[11][13][14]

According to Jones, Kennedy had been treated for pancreatitis as well as diabetes and kidney issues.[15] Kennedy died on December 15, 2019 in Anderson at the age of 73.[2] At the time of his death, Kennedy was living with his brother George and niece Jackie.[16]

References
  1. Levenson, Eric (15 December 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy, football fixture who inspired a Hollywood movie, dies at 73". CNN. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  2. Ortiz, Aimee (15 December 2019). "James Kennedy, Who Inspired the Movie 'Radio,' Dies at 72". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. O'Kane, Caitlin (16 December 2019). "James "Radio" Kennedy, staple of South Carolina high school football team who inspired 2003 film, has died". CBS News. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  4. Negley, Cassandra (16 December 2019). "James Kennedy, high school football fixture who inspired film 'Radio', dies at 73". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  5. Butler, Karen (15 December 2019). "Film inspiration James 'Radio' Kennedy dead at 73". United Press International. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  6. Peter, Josh (15 December 2019). "Reporter recalls the man and the story that became inspiration for the movie 'Radio'". The Ithaca Journal. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  7. WACH Staff (18 December 2019). "T.L. Hanna's icon 'Radio' obituary and public viewing". WACH. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  8. Levenson, Eric (15 December 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy, football fixture who inspired a Hollywood movie, dies at 73". WBAL-TV. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  9. CNN Wire (15 December 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy, football fixture who inspired a Hollywood movie, dies at 73". WHNT-TV. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  10. "Days and times the public can pay respects to T.L. Hanna legend James 'Radio' Kennedy". WYFF. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  11. Choiniere, Alyssa (16 December 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy Dies: T.L. Hanna High School Legend Was 73". Heavy.com. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. Pickman, Ben (15 December 2019). "'Radio' Kennedy, Focus of SI 1996 Feature, Inspiration for 2003 Film, Dies At 73". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  13. Stinson, Antonio (15 December 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy passes away, family says". KTSM-TV. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  14. "James 'Radio' Kennedy passes away, family says". WFLA-TV. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  15. Hayes, Dade (15 December 2019). "James "Radio" Kennedy Dies: Inspiration For 2003 Cuba Gooding Jr. Film Was 73". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  16. Jacobo, Julia (15 December 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy, man who inspired award-winning movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr., dies at 73". ABC News. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
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