The FIGHTING IRISH KENNEDY's

Fellow Kennedy:
        I was very interested in what you wrote about your Uncle Les Kennedy.
The similarities are interesting to Grandfather Edgar Kennedy who also was a
heavy weight fighter that also held the Pacific coast championship in 1912 ( I
have the gold watch he received for that task) He also fought Jack Dempsey, and
although he lost the decision Dempsey could not knock him out in the 15 rounds
they fought. Edgar used his fighting skill to move his way into Hollywood at the
Max Sennett studio, Sennett asked Edgar what you had to offer, in turn Edgar
stated that he could lick anyone on his lot Sennett being amused line up his
biggest guys to fight Kennedy. We'll Edgar took them all one at a time  most
with only one punch, witch earned him the name One Punch Kennedy. actors in
those day did all their own stunts, so Edgar's athletic ability was a big plus
to Sennett so he took him in. Edgar Kennedy's acting carrier lasted till his
death in 1948 but that's another story.
        Edgar Kennedy was born at Lake San Antonio in Monterey County California
to Neil Kennedy who was Married to Annie Quinn. Both Neil and Annie were
pioneers that traveled to California in covered wagons. They were both school
teachers that built a one room school house at Lake San Antonio. We can trace
Neil Kennedy to Kennedy's from Canada. Would like to find out more about my
Great Grandparents. If any one can help please let me know.

                                                               Thanks    Mark
Kennedy

(slowburn@aviastar.net)

P.S. Attached is a gif image of  the Dempsey, Kennedy fight.

Mike Caswell wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: wck <wck@dreamsoft.com>
> To: mike@caswellplating.com <mike@caswellplating.com>
> Date: Friday, August 21, 1998 3:08 PM
> Subject: Kennedys in Georgia & Missouri--Les Kennedy, a heavyweight boxer
>
> I'm researching a line of Kennedys that allegedly came to America with Lord
> Oglethorpe in Georgia.  Supposedly they were debtors out of the English
> jails and would have spent their lives there if Oglethorpe had not come up
> with the idea of colonizing with them, indentured servants etc.  I have
> traced my Family from California to Montana to North Dakota and now to
> Missouri.  My son, EUGENE JOSEPH KENNEDY, a broadcasting major at the
> University of Missouri (straight A's last semester--sure puffed his dad's
> head), under threat of tuition being cut off has located the burg of Bedford
> Missouri where Grandfather JOSEPH WILLIAM KENNEDY was born.  He will going
> to the county seat soon--or else--to find info on a birth certificate.  Hope
> we have luck.  (3) The other interesting thing that I am working on is a
> history of my Uncle Lesley Kennedy.  Les Kennedy was a heavyweight boxer
> during the depression years (late 1920 and 1930s)  He fought out of Montana
> and then California, often in the famous old Olympic auditorium in Los
> Angeles.  Before he turned pro, he was a sparring partner for Jack Dempsey
> and allegedly was fired when he got in a fast punch which decked Dempsey.
> After he turned pro he supposedly was ranked #3 and also supposedly was the
> heavy weight champion of the west coast.  (again much of this is oral
> history, mostly from my deceased father--who was one hell of a fighter
> himself, although he invented a number of things, one being a diesel
> compression guage which is now used by General Motors)  Les could never get
> a fight with the champion, Jack Dempsey, because Doc Kearns, Dempsey's
> manager remembered how Les was a big fast kid who had decked his meal ticket
> on at least one occasion.  Les later became a foreman on the water front
> with the Longshoremen who were starting up on the West Coast in the 30s.
> They needed fighters and his pugilistic skills were useful in organizing the
> waterfront.  Anyway, I've ran off at the mouth.  Just a few notes about the
> Kennedys, who truly can be known as the "fighting Irish"

Best to you, Bill
> Kennedy