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Hall of Fame 2004Howard KennedyVideo |
A fourth generation native of Omaha, Howard Kennedy graduated from Omaha Central High School, and was a 1962 graduate of the University of Iowa. Howard played first base for the Hawkeyes and was captain of the team as a senior. He had the opportunity to display his on-air talents with Special Forces in Alaska, broadcasting to the troops there.
Howard joined Lee Enterprises in 1965. He served as general manager of KIMT-TV, Mason City, Iowa, station manager of KOIN-TV, Portland, Oregon, and was General Manager of WSAZ-TV, Huntington-Charleston, West Virginia, before taking the reins at KMTV, Omaha in 1986. A 35-year broadcast veteran, he spent 20 years at KMTV in this capacity, then as interim General Manager at KRQE, Albuquerque until his retirement in 2000.
Howards personal commitment to serve is evident in his community activities. He has served on the boards of the Urban League, Opera/Omaha, the United Way, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Steering Committee for Omaha 2000, and the Wellness Council of the Midlands. He currently serves as a trustee at Dundee Presbyterian Church in Omaha, and is on the boards of the College World Series and the Lauritzen Botanical Gardens.
Kennedy is a Past President of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association (1993) and is a past recipient of the Distinguished Broadcaster of the Year Award from the University of Nebraska-Linicoln Chapter, National Broadcasting Society, Alpha Epsilon Rho, and Advertising Man of the Year from the Omaha Federation of Advertising. He also served as Chairman of the CBS Affiliates Advisory Board.
Howard is married to Karen Jorgensen Kennedy and they have three children, sons Christopher and Howared V, and daughter Jennifer, eight grandchildren, and they still make their home in Omaha.