James "Radio" Kennedy
Radio Kennedy | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Robert Kennedy October 14, 1947 Anderson, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | December 15, 2019 (aged 72) Anderson, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Known for | Association with the T. L. Hanna High School football team; Subject of Radio |
James Robert "Radio" Kennedy (October 14, 1947 – December 15, 2019) was an American man with an intellectual disability caused from a traumatic brain injury[1] who was known for his association with the T. L. Hanna High School football team, in Anderson, South Carolina.[2] Kennedy first gained prominence in 1996, when Gary Smith wrote an article about him for Sports Illustrated titled "Someone to Lean On."[3][2][4] Kennedy's story was then made into a feature film in 2003, Radio, in which he was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr.[5][6][7][8]
Biography
James Robert Kennedy was born on October 14, 1947, in Anderson to parents Bill Kennedy and Janie Mae Bolden Greenlee.[4][9]
According to Sheila Hilton, the former principal of T.L. Hanna High School, Kennedy earned the nickname "Radio" in the mid-1960s, when he began to show up at the school football field with a transistor radio.[10][11] In 1964, Kennedy befriended the school's football coach, Harold Jones.[12] Their friendship served as the basis of the 2003 film Radio, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Kennedy and Ed Harris as Jones.[5] In 1965, Kennedy became an unofficial 11th-grade student at T.L. Hanna High.[13] Kennedy was considered a permanent high school junior, meaning that he would never graduate or have to leave.[4]
Recognition
In 2006, a statue of Kennedy was unveiled at the football stadium of T.L. Hanna High.[14] In 2016, Kennedy was inducted into the T.L. Hanna Athletic Hall of Fame.[13][15][16]
Later years
According to Jones, Kennedy had been treated for pancreatitis, as well as diabetes and kidney issues.[17] Kennedy died on December 15, 2019, in Anderson at the age of 72.[4] At the time of his death, Kennedy was living with his brother George and niece Jackie.[18]
References
- ^ Peter, Josh (December 15, 2019). "The newspaper article that helped turn James 'Radio' Kennedy's story into a movie". Independent Mail. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ^ a b Levenson, Eric (December 15, 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy, football fixture who inspired a Hollywood movie, dies at 73". CNN. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Smith, Gary (December 16, 1996). "Someone to Lean On". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Ortiz, Aimee (December 15, 2019). "James Kennedy, Who Inspired the Movie 'Radio,' Dies at 72". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ a b O'Kane, Caitlin (December 16, 2019). "James "Radio" Kennedy, staple of South Carolina high school football team who inspired 2003 film, has died". CBS News. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Negley, Cassandra (December 16, 2019). "James Kennedy, high school football fixture who inspired film 'Radio', dies at 73". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Butler, Karen (December 15, 2019). "Film inspiration James 'Radio' Kennedy dead at 73". United Press International. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Peter, Josh (December 15, 2019). "Reporter recalls the man and the story that became inspiration for the movie 'Radio'". The Ithaca Journal. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ "T.L. Hanna's icon 'Radio' obituary and public viewing". WACH. December 18, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Levenson, Eric (December 15, 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy, football fixture who inspired a Hollywood movie, dies at 73". WBAL-TV. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ "James 'Radio' Kennedy, football fixture who inspired a Hollywood movie, dies at 73". WHNT-TV. CNN Wire. December 15, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ "Days and times the public can pay respects to T.L. Hanna legend James 'Radio' Kennedy". WYFF. December 17, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ a b Choiniere, Alyssa (December 16, 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy Dies: T.L. Hanna High School Legend Was 73". Heavy.com. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Pickman, Ben (December 15, 2019). "'Radio' Kennedy, Focus of SI 1996 Feature, Inspiration for 2003 Film, Dies At 73". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Stinson, Antonio (December 15, 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy passes away, family says". KTSM-TV. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ "James 'Radio' Kennedy passes away, family says". WFLA-TV. December 15, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (December 15, 2019). "James "Radio" Kennedy Dies: Inspiration For 2003 Cuba Gooding Jr. Film Was 73". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Jacobo, Julia (December 15, 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy, man who inspired award-winning movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr., dies at 72". ABC News. Retrieved June 5, 2020.