Roland “Pudge” Kennedy has been named 2018 Gem of the Year. Each year the citizens of Antwerp nominate an outstanding member to be recognized at the opening of Antwerp’s Day in the Park, and this year’s responses were overwhelmingly in Pudge’s favor.
Pudge Kennedy was born to Paul and Fairy Kennedy on December 5, 1951. He has five siblings that live in the surrounding area: Barbara Thiel, Carrie Jones, John Kennedy, Hazen Kennedy, and Diane Hostetler. He has lived in Antwerp all his life except for the 2 years after high school he was in active duty for the U.S. Army for 2 years with a tour of duty in Vietnam. Pudge was a 1970 graduate of Antwerp High School. While in high school, he worked at the Antwerp Shell station (where the Pit Stop is located now), he was a paper boy for the Journal Gazette, and also worked with his dad in the family business, Kennedy Trenching & Excavating. He later took over the business for his father.
Pudge married his wife, Linda, in 1975 and they have two children: Sarah (Dale) McCorkle of Ossian, and Greta (Jeremy) Kosch of Antwerp. They also have four grandchildren: Brendan, Spencer, Griffin and Olivia. To Pudge, his grandchildren are his pride and joy.
There is a common theme with Pudge — work. He just loves to work. When asked what his hobbies are, his answer was his work. Whether that be taking care of the cemeteries in Antwerp; digging up broken water mains for the Village or backhoe work & trenching for residential & commercial customers, Pudge is at his best when he is doing these things. For a short time, Pudge and Linda also ran Kennedy Flower Shop (now Petals & Vines) for seven years, but when Linda was offered a position at a local bank, they decided to sell the flower shop. In the winters, Pudge plows snow out of driveways and parking lots in the area.
Other activities that Pudge has been involved in in Antwerp include: a member of the Antwerp Fire Department for 32 years and EMS for eight years; a member of the Divine Mercy Catholic Parish; life member of the American Legion and VFW; and an Antwerp Chamber member.
There is a definition of the word ‘humility’ that seems to fit Pudge Kennedy: “True humility is to recognize your value and others’ value while looking up. It is to see there is far greater than ourself into who we can become, who others can become, and how much more we can do and be.”
Pudge Kennedy is a humble man and an asset to the village of Antwerp. Congratulations on being Antwerp’s Gem of the Year.
