Born in Kansas City, Missouri on March 20, 1907, Lloyd Vernon Kennedy grew up in Mendon, where he and his wife of over 60 years resided until his death January 28, 1993 at age 85.
He graduated from high school in 1925 and enrolled at Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg where he was an outstanding athlete, competing in football and track and field events. As a tackle for the Mules, he was a three-time All-MIAA selection. In track and field, he helped the Mules to four straight MIAA track and field titles and set school records in the Javelin, shot put and discus. Capping his college years was a national title in the 1927 decathlon at the prestigious Penn Relays on Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
In 1951, Central Missouri State established the Vernon Kennedy Award, which is presented to the school's outstanding male athlete each year. In 1954, CMSU renamed its football field, Vernon Kennedy Field. The school's annual heptathlon and decathlon, held in the spring, also is named for Kennedy. In February 1992, he was included in the first class of inductees into the Hall of Fame at CMSU. He received the CMSU Distinguished Alumni Award and the American Legion Distinguished Citizen Award.
Named a living legend by the University of Central Missouri, Lloyd Vernon Kennedy had an illustrious career and was named Central's greatest athlete.
In 1955, he became the seventh person inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, in its fifth year.After graduating from college Mr. Kennedy got his first job carrying bricks in Mendon where he pitched for the town baseball team on Sundays. Pittsburgh offered him a contract in 1930, and he reported to Burlington, Iowa, in the Mississippi Valley League. That started his 24-year stint in professional baseball, 12 of which were in the major leagues and included a no-hit game and two All Star appearances.
Kennedy was 27 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 18, 1934, with the Chicago White Sox and was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1934 through 1945. He played for the Chicago White Sox (1934-1937), Detroit Tigers (1938-1939), St. Louis Browns (1939-1941), Washington Senators (1941), Cleveland Indians (1942-1944), Philadelphia Phillies (1944-1945) and Cincinnati Reds (1945). Kennedy batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
While pitching for the Chicago White Sox, Kennedy threw the first no-hitter ever in Comiskey Park - a 5-0 shutout over Cleveland on August 31, 1935. His most productive season came in 1936, when he posted career-highs in wins (21), innings pitched (274) and complete games (20). A competent hitting-pitcher, he compiled a .244 average (181-for-743) with 36 extra base hits, including four home runs and 61 RBI. He also made the American League All-Star team in 1936 and 1938.In a 12-season major league career, Kennedy posted a 104-132 record with 691 strikeouts in 344 games, a .441 average and a 4.67 ERA in 2025 innings.
After his retirement from the diamond, he taught and coached in Brookfield for 10 years, and had competed annually in the Missouri's Senior Olympics and the Show-Me Games where he was the oldest entrant and consistent medal winner. He held records in all age groups.