NeveHarms If you couldn't see the scoreboard, you could tell how much longer the game was by the length of Dr. Kenny's cigar. He always brought one for each half.
A lifelong Peorian, Dr James N. Kenny, Sr. graduated from Spalding where he participated in football and boxing. He graduated from Notre Dame with a B.S. in Biological Services, and received his M.D. from St. Louis University in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 until 1946, attaining the rank of Captain.
Completing his internship and residency in General Surgery in 1950, he practiced surgery in Peoria until 1990, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
A "fill-in" for Dr Cusack, he took over the Spalding Irish job in 1966 and served until 1986. He took care of injuries, supplied the team with Gatorade, and furnished player photos at the end of season Sports Banquet. Three sons played football for Spalding, and two daughters were cheerleaders.
In 1976, Dr. Kenny received the University of Notre Dame Award of the Year for his commitment to family, his contributions to his community, and his desire to help and serve his fellow man. He was commended for the unselfish and charitable work that he performed throughout his career.
Barb Waddell Waddell has played a prominent role in the advancement of women’s athletics as an athlete, coach and administrator. A 1978 inductee into the Illinois State University Athletics Hall of Fame, Waddell earned 16 varsity letters at ISU, playing basketball, field hockey, softball and volleyball for the Redbirds. After graduation, Waddell continued to compete by playing women’s major fast pitch softball for the Pekin Lettes from 1958-63. She also was a member of the Central Illinois Field Hockey Association and the Midwest Field Hockey Team, earning selection to the second EAM All-National Tournament. She also continued her basketball career as a starter for the Peoria/Pekin Independent AAU Basketball Team that won several Illinois AAU state tournaments and competed in national AAU events. Waddell served as site director for the IHSA state softball tournament in Pekin for 25 years and she was the originator and co-director of the Pekin Lassie League softball program, which is credited with providing youth sports opportunities for girls before high school programs gained varsity status in the 1970s. |