 Kennedy, circa 1942 | |
| No. 85 | |
|---|---|
| Position: |
Running back Defensive back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | June 29, 1921 Sandpoint, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died: | July 29, 2010 (aged 89) Boise, Idaho, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Sandpoint (ID) |
| College: | Washington State |
| NFL draft: | 1943 / Round: 4 / Pick: 27 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | U.S. Army Air Forces |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Player stats at PFR | |
Robert Henry Kennedy (June 29, 1921 – July 29, 2010) was a professional American football player who played running back for five seasons for the New York Yankees of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the New York Yanks of the National Football League (NFL). [1]
Football career
After graduation from Sandpoint High School in northern Idaho, Kennedy attended Washington State College in Pullman and played college football for the Cougars; [2] [3] [4] [5] he was an All-American fullback and quarterback. [6] He continued to play football for the U.S. Army Air Forces during the years of World War II, [6] with the Third Air Force Gremlins.
Although selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1943 NFL Draft, [7] after the war Kennedy signed a contract to play for the upstart New York Yankees of the AAFC, a new professional league established in competition with the established NFL. Kennedy played "both ways" for the Yankees, starting as a running back on offense and a linebacker and defensive back on defense. [6]
In 1950, following the merger of the AAFC and the NFL, Kennedy played one season for the short-lived New York Yanks of the NFL.
After football
During his later years, Kennedy worked as a real estate broker and a property developer in southern California; he was a proficient chef and an aficionado of playing cards. [6]
He was inducted into the WSU athletic hall of fame in 1988. [8]
References
- ^ "Bob Kennedy Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Strite, Dick (October 4, 1942). "WSC Cougars plow through Webfoots, 7-0". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1.
- ^ Hampson, Fred (October 25, 1942). "Washington State overpowers Oregon State, 26-13". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 18.
- ^ "Boom! Kennedy scores". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). (photo). November 9, 1942. p. 11.
- ^ "Kennedy winds up as leader". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 7, 1942. p. 11.
- ^ a b c d "Robert H. 'Bob' Kennedy," The Arizona Republic, www.azcentral.com/
- ^ "Many W.S.C. and Idaho football players named in pro league draft". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. April 9, 1943. p. 13.
- ^ Pierce, Oliver (September 14, 1988). "Six to join WSU's hall of fame". Idahonian. (Moscow). p. 9A.
External links
- Washington State University Athletics Hall of Fame Archived 2019-07-03 at the Wayback Machine – Bob Kennedy
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
- 1921 births
- 2010 deaths
- American football running backs
- American football defensive backs
- New York Yankees (AAFC) players
- New York Yanks players
- Third Air Force Gremlins football players
- Washington State Cougars football players
- People from Sandpoint, Idaho
- Players of American football from Idaho
- United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II