J. Walter Kennedy was born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1912. Kennedy was diagnosed with Polio at an early age and was therefore unable to compete in sports, but that did not dampen his love for them. After graduating from Notre Dame, he began his career as a basketball coach, culminating in a very good run as the coach of St Basil's Prep School in Stamford. In the 1940s he returned to Notre Dame as their athletic director until moving on to become the Public Relations director of the BAA just months before it merged with the NBL, forming the NBA. In 1963, NBA owners voted him to be the league's next President after the retirement of Maurice Podoloff.
Early into his term, Kennedy established himself as an iron-handed executive who ran the league strongly. He was known to exert his authority by levying out large fines and punishments against players and coaches whose actions he deemed detrimental to the NBA.
Kennedy inherited the NBA at a bad time, seeing decreased attendance, viewership and heavy competition from the ABA. By the time he retired, the league had added 9 teams, tripled attendance and saw a 200% increase in viewership.
Despite ruling the NBA with an iron-fist, Kennedy was known as a very kind and approachable man. He was involved in many social issues such as the Special Olympics and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He is memorialized with the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given annually to an NBA player or coach who shows outstanding work in their community.
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