Garland Sports Hall of Fame

Jim Kennedy

Jim Kennedy has been selected for induction into the Garland Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding track achievements for Garland High School in the early 1950's. In 1954 he won the state 440 with a record time of 49.0 seconds, competing in Class 2A, the highest track classification at the time. Kennedy lettered three years in track as Coach George Roach led the Owls to consecutive district championships in 1952, 53, and 54. As a junior in 1953 Kennedy won the district 440 yard dash and anchored the Owl mile relay team to first place. Both events were finished in school record times. At the regional meet Kennedy took first place in the 440 in school record time and in the state meet was third in the 440. As a senior in 1954 Kennedy won the 100 yard dash in school record time. He won the 220 and the 440 at the district meet, and anchored the Owl mile relay team to a second place finish. At the regional meet he won first place in both the 220 and the 440 in school record times, as the Owls won their second consecutive regional team title, defeating a Dallas Sunset High School team led by future Olympian Eddie Southern. At the state meet Kennedy vanquished his rival runners in the 440 as he won the state championship. His achievements earned him a track scholarship to Baylor University, where as a freshman he won the 440 yard dash and ran the anchor leg for the winning Bear mile relay and sprint relay teams in the Freshman Division of the Texas Relays. In the Southwest Conference Freshman Meet, he was second in the 440 dash and anchored the Bears to second in the mile relay. In 1956 Kennedy suffered a severed Achilles tendon and the injury ended his track career. Kennedy graduated from Baylor University, and he and his wife, Gay, returned to Garland to rear their three daughters, Kari Flowers, Jill McPherson, and Julie Fikes.