Graduation temporarily ended the baseball career of "Big Jim" Kennedy. He finished his Tuscarora Valley High School with a .680 batting average and an outstanding pitching record. His picture appeared in the Port Royal Times because he entered the US Army and was stationed at Newport News, Virginia.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/3/11 - Image Year: 1944
JAMES RICHARD KENNEDY, 44, of Port Royal RD2 was pronounced dead on arrival at the Lewistown Hospital at 12:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon [25 Feb 1968]. Death was attributed to a heart seizure. Mr. Kennedy had suffered a slight heart attack several weeks ago.
Mr. Kennedy was born Feb. 1, 1924, at Port Royal, a son of W. Banks and Jessie Saffill Kennedy of Port Royal RD2.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Kennedy is survived by the following brothers and sisters: William A. Kennedy of Port Royal RD1, Daniel H. Kennedy of Port Royal; Mrs. John (Shirley) Groce of Newark, Del.; Mrs. Theodore (Jeanne) Wagner of Mifflintown RD2; Mrs. Glen (Faye) Stitt of Mifflin Star Rt.; Mrs. Thomas (Ruth) Wynn of Dauphin, Dauphin County; Mrs. Darwin (Jessie) Nace of Mifflintown; Mrs. James (Patricia) Walters of Lancaster; Mrs John (Paula) Rosenstengel of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, and Mrs. Laird (Betty) Robinson of Carlisle, Cumberland County.
Mr. Kennedy was a salesman and repairman for Bashore's Television Sales and Service at Port Royal.
He was prominent in baseball circles in Juniata County having played with Port Royal of the Perry-Juniata Baseball League for many years.
A veteran of World War II, he served overseas as a staff sergeant with the Military Police.
Mr. Kennedy was a member of the Port Royal Methodist Church, the Juniata County Veterans Council, the Amvets of Thompsontown, the Juniata Sportsmen's Association and the Crawford-Brubaker Post Veterans of Foreign Wars of Mifflintown and was a past commander of the American Legion at Mifflintown.
Services will be held in the Stimmel Funeral Home at Port Royal Thursday morning at 11 o'clock in charge of Rev. William Baker Herd. Interment will be made in the Old Church Hill Cemetery at Port Royal with full military rites by the American Legion. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday evening.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 4/13/17 - Image Year: 1941
1941 PORT ROYAL CHAMPION BASEBALL TEAM: Front Row (L-R): Grover Wolfgang Jr, Batboy Billy Telfer, Robert "Mugs" Frankhouse; Middle Row: Russell Wagner, Dick Ulsh, Paul Fleck, James "Mayor" Kennedy, Bill Kauffman, Bill Kennedy; Back Row: Couch Charles "Bill" Telfer, Gerald "Smokey" Miller, Ted Bergstresser, James Robinson, Harold "Doc" Kepner, Harvey "Popeye" McClure, Brady Kunkle Paul Fleck said the last game went 19-20 innings 1 walkin run and no hits. The New York Times had article.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/13/19 - Image Year: 1943
TVHS GRADUATING CLASS OF 1943
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/14/13 - Image Year: 1943
Jim Kennedy during his World War II military service. (Photo submitted by Wayne Taylor
Contributed by rkohler3 on 12/28/10 - Image Year: 1962
MAYOR KENNEDY in his sesqui-centennial garb. (Photo submitted by Helen Graham Beers.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 2/14/13 - Image Year: 1962
BROTHER OF THE BRUSH: Jim Kennedy with his beard for Port Royal's Sesqui-centennial Celebration in 1962. (Photo submitted by Wayne Taylor)
Contributed by muke on 9/4/11
James [Mayor] Kennedy was known to me as "Uncle Mayor". He was my father's (Daniel Kennedy) brother. He always would buy my brother (Scott Kennedy) and me the best Christmas gifts. I did not know until I was quite older that he played Santa Claus at Bashores Hardware Store in Port Royal. He would tell my parents what we told Santa we wanted but would keep a few things secret. That is how he always knew what to get us. My brother and I both still have the last gifts we received from him.
