", As for Kennedy, he was so proud of the movie, he would often greet people by saying,"Have you seen my movie? In the 1970s, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy, a 23-year-old mentally disabled man, lives alone with his mother who, as a nurse, spends much of the day at work. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The Sports Illustrated story was turned into a Hollywood film, "Radio," in 2003. "Radio was the heart and soul of T.L. The two spent much of their time together for half a century. What are some examples of how providers can receive incentives? [1] The article and the movie are based on the true story of T. L. Hanna High School football coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) and a young man with an intellectual disability, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy (Cuba Gooding Jr.). NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture On Wednesday, three of her children all talked about their own memories of their mother. HE TAUGHT US ALL I MEAN WE DIDNT TEACH HIM ONE THING AND YOU KNOW RADIO HES JUST AND YOU BILL I TELL YOU WE HAD THAT WEBSITE, YOU KNOW, AND WE GOT TWO EMAILS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. Hanna High School on December 20 and the following day at Civic Center of Anderson, according to the funeral home. Hollywood writers go on strike over fair pay in streaming era, Missing teens likely among 7 people found dead in Oklahoma, authorities say, Fish contaminated with "forever chemicals" found in nearly every state, Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at 84, CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue, Oklahoma governor signs gender-affirming care ban for kids, American climber dies on Mount Everest, expedition organizer says, Bob Lee died from three stab wounds, medical examiner says, At least 6 dead after dust storm causes massive pile-up on Illinois highway, James "Radio" Kennedy, inspiration behind 2003 film, dead at 73. He said Radio was treated for pancreatitis, along with ongoing diabetes and kidney issues. It launched him and the city of Anderson into the spotlight. And I say, 'yes. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30. AAE is one of the premier celebrity booking agencies and top keynote speakers bureaus in the world. We are here to help! It has changed his, and, in return, he has changed ours, and we are better people for having known him.". Contact an All American Speakers Bureau booking agent for more information on Coach Harold Jones speaking fees, availability, speech topics and cost to hire for your next live or virtual event. The teams coach, Harold Jones, hears the team members throw balls at the shed and goes to comfort Radio. At Radio's high school graduation, he receives an honorary diploma and a letterman jacket. "He was just a. Kennedy had been hospitalized ahead of his passing, WSPA reports. He became a fixture at football practices, standing passively and watching, until one day when he began to mimic the coaches' signals and tried his hand at yelling out commands.". Hanna football coach Harold Jones told The Anderson Independent Mail. He had been associated with the high school's football program since 1964 when he befriended Coach Harold Jones. Each year, he shared his birthday with the community at the Anderson Chick-fil-A. The film takes somedramatic licenseand compresses decades of time into a single football season, but it's regarded as truthfully telling the story of friendship and a town's acceptanceof a man with intellectual disabilities and a warm smile. Jones reflected recently with the Independent Mail on what kind of legacy Kennedy has left. Radio died in December at the age of 73. NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureCamie Award for Theatrical Releases Kennedy died on Dec. 15, 2019, of complications related to diabetes and kidney issues, Jonessaid. He became very popular with the students and became an unofficial 11th-grade student at the school in 1965. HES LIKE FAMILY TO ME. Jacqueline said she misses hearing her mother laugh as they told stories of their childhood. Coach Harold Jones is a retired South Carolina high school football coach best known for embracing a developmentally challenged African American boy named James Robert "Radio" Kennedy back in 1964. And the story is simple: love and compassion can change lives. HELL ALWAYS BE TIL. Most Facebook users can now claim settlement money. Hanna legend Radio died, and his grave still does not have a marker. The 2023 Met Gala theme explained, Met Gala 2023 looks: See photos of the show-stopping red carpet arrivals, Mother stung over 75 times by bees but her "quick thinking" saves kids. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. "And the story is simple: love and compassion can change lives. It's been a year since James "Radio" Kennedy diedafter inspiring thousands of people in Andersonand millions more who saw the Hollywood movie based on his life. His niece and caregiver, Jackie Kennedy, told WYFF in Greenville, South. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. "Grandma asked Mama if she would take care of Radio and Cool Rock and again, Mama did not hesitate," Jacqueline said. In 1996, a writer for Sports Illustrated named Gary Smith penned an article about Jones's friendship with Radio. If you would like to contribute, you can mail a check to:RadioC/O Commercial BankP.O. "His story is amazing," Dawkins said. Call us to speak with a booking agent to discuss your event or specific speaker request. The school felt the same about him, saidKyle Newton, a spokesman for Anderson School District 5. During an emotional moment in the film, coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) told his daughter, Mary Helen, about a mentally handicapped young boy who was kept locked in an open area under a house. Andrea Wideman said she will miss hearing her mother talk about God. >> A LOCAL LEGEND IMMORTALIZED IN A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE BUT ALSO IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM. "She would talk about making it to heaven to see God.". The film's lead character, Radio, is based on James Robert "Radio" Kennedy, who was born October 14, 1946[2] in Anderson, South Carolina. HE IS VERY PROUD. Jones bought Radio a hamburger and a coke and the two really hit off. He was without a Harvard degree or Pulitzer Prize or professional football contract, but his fame surpassed all of these accolades. Hanna, and he always will be T.L. But he was not. Hanna football program for decades after showing up on the field as a teenager in the mid-1960s. >> JAMES "RADIO" KENNEDY PASSED AWAY SUNDAY MORNING AFTER AN ONGOING BATTLE WITH PANCREA-TITUS AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The Sports Whisperer, Probing Psychic Wounds", "James Kennedy, Who Inspired the Movie 'Radio,' Dies at 73", "Radio Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More", "Radio Movie True Story - Real James Robert Kennedy, Coach Harold Jones", "The Official Web Site of Radio and Coach Jones", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Radio_(2003_film)&oldid=1149557588, This page was last edited on 13 April 2023, at 00:05. "The other 80%that people who never met him didn't see, they'd have loved that, too," Allen said. "Fun facts" about Radio listed on Anderson School District Five's website in an article written by former Hanna principal Sheila Hilton: More: Radio, Coach Jones ring bell for Salvation Army in Anderson, Friends celebrate 71st birthday with Radio. Kennedy said Radio, 73, was taken to Hospice of the Upstate in Anderson County on Saturday afternoon. AND S ONCE I WAS A PLAYING JV BASKETBALL AT HANNAH AND WE WERE GOING TO EASILY FOR A BASKETBALL GAME AND COACH FLOYD GOT ON TH BUS AND HE SAID WHERE IS RADIO? He has been associated with the T.L . When you thought of Radio, you thought of Hanna, and when you thought of Hanna, you thought of Radio, Burdette said. AND IM NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT HANNAH BUT ALL OVER THE I TELL YOU ALL OVER THE WORLD HIS POPULARITY NOT JUST ON THE GRIDIRON RADIO WAS GOOD LUCK. NOW THAT HE IS GONE, HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON. Radio, which starred Cuba Gooding Jr. as Mr. Kennedy and chronicled the friendship between him and Harold Jones, a T.L. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. She helped care for her aunt, who was blind, when she was just a child. "Family was so important to her," said another daughter, Jacqueline Kennedy. Hanna High Coach Harold Jones. A graduate of Columbia University, where he was a standout football player, Coviello was widely recognized as the finest high school football . [4] The film successfully grossed $52.3 million with a budget of approximately $30 million. The entryway at T.L. He kept coming back," said former T.L. Some remember the time he ate a cooler full of sandwiches that hadbeen tucked awayon a bus for the football team. Amazon Has Uncanny Dupes of CB2's Popular Dining Chair for Hundreds Less. Advertisement. Hanna legend Radio died, and his grave still does not have a marker. Hanna football coach Harold Jones befriended Radio.The story of Radio's friendship with Jones was the subject of the film "Radio" in 2003.Radio was previously hospitalized in early December, according to Jones. "She would always say she loved us kids so much that she'd love to buy a big house so we could all move back in. Todays juniors and seniors are the last class who went a full year with Kennedy. Radio often pauses to observe the local high school football team in their training sessions, led by Coach Harold Jones. He was described by former Independent Mail journalist Jon Solomon as "in his element when spreading joy." Jones reflected recently with. "Radio, the way I see it, is T.L. That same evening, Jones reveals to Mary Helen that his attachment to Radio and need to assist him stems from a childhood incident in which Jones, as a child making a living off delivering newspapers, did not help a mentally disabled boy his own age crying behind barbed wire. HE LOVED IT OUT DEW THAT COACHING COACH HAROLD JONES TOOK HIM UNDER HIS WING ONE OF THE CLOSEST TO RADIO WITNESSING FIRSTHAND HIS IMPACT. They should be loved," Jones said. At a Christmas mass, Radio receives several gifts from the townspeople, and Mary Helen confides to her father that while she does not blame him for neglecting her, she cannot understand the reason for his interest in Radio. "She'd just help you get through life," he said. He said Radio was treated for pancreatitis, along with ongoing diabetes and kidney issues.Radio was inducted into the T.L. Hilton also noted that Kennedy is "arguably the most famous person to come out of Anderson," with publications like Sports Illustrated, Readers' Digest, ESPN, and CBS News telling his story. She was nominated for Academy Awards in both films and would continue to work steadily over the years. (Photo: Paul Archuleta / Stringer, Getty) Drew is another star known more for his TV roles, appearing in Everwood and was the voice of Stacy Rowe in the animated series Daria. "He will be missed, but his legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched. By Charmaine Smith-Miles of the Independent Mail. Harris entered Radio as one of the more respected actors in Hollywood. Its been nearly a year since T.L. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Hanna coach Harold Jones. All rights reserved. It showed just a small bit of Kennedy's personality, saidJosh Allen, Kennedy's great-nephew. All rights reserved. Box 127Honea Path, SC 29654The story of Radios friendship with Jones was the subject of the film Radio in 2003. HANNA HI SCHOOL. Jones said the film changed his life and Kennedy's for the better. During one such session, the football falls out of bounds, allowing Radio to collect it and haul it away in his cart. And we are better people for having known him.". Coach Harold Jones is a retired South Carolina high school football coach best known for embracing a developmentally challenged African American boy named James Robert "Radio" Kennedy back in 1964. HE IS TLM. One coach, Harold Jones, took him under his wing, and their relationship served as the inspiration behind the 2003 film, "Radio." Jones, Howard played football in Middletown, Ohio; at Phillips Exeter Academy (1903-04) in Exeter, N.H.; and at Yale University (1905 . And he hopes that Kennedy's legacy will live on in the students he inspired for generations. Hanna': Coach Jones remembers James 'Radio' Kennedy. He was 73. Services will be held at T.L. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30. Amid diabetes, kidney failure and pancreatitis, he still signed dozens of autographs from his hospital room. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. "Hilton added: "It was destiny that he arrived on that football field some fifty years ago. HE INSPIRED MY HEART. He was 88. Jones and Radio were friends for over 50 years until Radio passed away at 73 on 15 December 2019. Please Note: All American Speakers Bureau is a full-service talent booking agency providing information on booking Coach Harold Jones for speaking engagements, personal appearances and corporate events. >> I GOT TEARS IN MY EYES TH DAY THAT HE DIED BECAUSE HE WAS THE GREATEST FRIEND I EVER HAD HE INSPIRED ME A LOT HE INSPIRED -- INSPIRED ME A LOT. Hanna High Principal Sheila Hilton wrote a few years ago, At that time, he was a teenager, with a transistor radio seemingly attached to his ear, who could barely speak and had never learned to read or write. And I say, 'yes.'. On Monday, Mary Kennedy died at the age of 63 at the home of Andrea Wideman, her daughter. He was a coach and worked as a title abstractor and insurance salesman. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". He kept coming back," said former T.L. Kennedy was consistently himself. Mary Ann Kennedy, or Pat as most knew her, was a caretaker all her life. Kennedy was born in Anderson and was one of 12 children. "She would talk about God all the time," Andrea said. The film co-stars Debra Winger and Alfre Woodard. "He just showed up at practice, but he wouldn't come close, and we couldn't understand a word he said. She said he passed away early Sunday morning.Radio has been associated with the T.L. He has continued to work consistently over the last 17 years, with his last film being Bayou Caviar, which was released in 2018. T.L. Aside from inspiring a Hollywood film, Kennedy also inspired those who knew him. The 18-year-old James Robert Kennedy, nicknamed Radio because of his obsession with radios, had a developmental handicap and wasn't able to read or write. James "Radio" Kennedy,the inspiration for a Hollywood movieand a man described as"in his element when spreading joy," died early Sunday. Coach Jones frees Radio and punishes the wrongdoers by making them run extra wind sprints after practice. Jones and Radio were friends for over 50 years until Radio passed away at 73 on 15 December 2019. I believe it really helped. Most fans know her as Dr. April Kepner on Grey's Anatomy, and she was on the show from 2009-2018. That setup the rest of Kennedy's life, and it shows just how effective Kennedy was in changing hearts and minds, Jones said. Now Jones is continuing their charitable work with the Outdoor Dream Foundation, an Anderson group that provides outdoor wishes to kids facing challenges. ", Lawyer: Oconee County should prove Dollar General decision, Anderson officials say art will enhance new downtown park, One arrested after student shot near Clemson, Plaintiff must produce medical records in Seneca lawsuit, Coroner: Overdoses are Anderson Countys No. CHEERLEADER A GREATEST I TELL YOU WHAT HE LOVED. He made no attempts to change himself or others, simply accepting everyone including himself for who they are, Burdette said. I MEAN THE, YOU KNOW, THEYRE YOU KNOW, HES JUST HAD SO MUCH LOVE TO GET YOUR OPINION. Hanna High School football team after befriending head coach Harold Jones. Harold George Belafonte Jr. was born March 1, 1927 in New York city to poor Caribbean immigrants. The local icon died early Sunday morning at the age of 73. However, the other officers recognize Radio and he is released. He'd been a fixture on the sidelines of T.L. Over time, and with his nickname-inspiringtransistor radio,Kennedy became a crucial part of the football team, the schooland the most recognized member of the community. They will hear stories from those who knew her as people stop by to visit at the Unity Mortuary in Anderson from 11 a.m. Thursday until 12:30 p.m. Friday. How old is Harold Jones? Kennedy had developmental disabilities, which led to years of being bullied and harassed, including people pulling down his pants and pouring kerosene on his books, Jones said. We will miss him incredibly.". Hanna High Principal Sheila Hilton. The football stadium would bear his statue after the 2003 blockbuster hit film named for him. Blue Jays Pitcher Rips United Airlines for Making Pregnant Wife Clean up After Their Kids, Sparking Debate, Serena Williams Pregnant With Baby No. AND NOBODY HAD SEEN RADIO AND HE WOULD NOT LEAVE UNTIL SOMEBODY GOT IN THEIR CAR WHEN FOUND RADIO AND BROUGHT HIM BACK TO GET ON THE BUS TO GO TO EASILY INCLUDED EVE YEAR IN THE SCHOOL YEARBOOK AS A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR THIS STATUE MADE IN HIS HONOR AT HANNAH STADIUM AFTER THE 200 FILM WITH HIS NAME. He could rattle off nearly any high school mascot in the state,and he was a fixture at school events, especially at Hanna but also throughout the Upstate and well beyond sports. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. But when he would come in, hed say Why are you tired? Radio spends much of his day roaming the town and pushing a shopping cart, which he uses to collect anything interesting he finds. Upon meeting Radio on the streets another day, Coach Jones asks Radio to visit and help at training. Coach Jones frees Radio and punishes the wrongdoers by making them run extra wind sprints after practice. His successors have taken good care of Radio and considered him an integral part of the team. His father worked as a cook on merchant ships and abandoned the family when Belafonte was young. While coaches came and went, Kennedy was a constant. AAE Named to Inc. Best Workplaces in 2022. Following the holidays, Radio begins taking classes in the high school to complete his formal education. Hanna High School, which already included tributes to Kennedy,will be reworked to add further honors to Kennedy. It was filmed primarily in Walterboro, South Carolina because its buildings and downtown core still fit the look of the era the film was trying to depict. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. The movie "Radio," starring Cuba Gooding Jr. in the title role, told the story of how Kennedy was eventually accepted and ultimately celebrated. They should be respected. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30. Hanna High School football games for more than 50 years. Hanna High School legend James "Radio" Kennedy has passed away, according to his niece and caregiver Jackie Kennedy.Kennedy said Radio, 73, was taken to Hospice of the Upstate in Anderson County on Saturday afternoon. She was in three movies last year including Clemency and will star in the film Fatherhood in 2021. Can we communicate through the other respondent has disability? In 1964, former T.L. Hanna football coach Harold Jones befriended Radio. Hanna teacher Vinnie Dill after he arrived at a screening of the movie "Radio," based on his life, on October 23, 2003, in Anderson, South Carolina. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Harold Jones of Dowagiac, Michigan, who passed away at the age of 85, on May 11, 2022. Hanna High School, Radio, Coach Jones ring bell for Salvation Army in Anderson, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He said that he would see the boy when he was delivering newspapers many years earlier. We didn't teach him a thing.". Do you know Radio?' Radio's mother suddenly dies of a heart attack, and Radio finds himself living alone until his absent older brother Walter finally returns to care for him. Local icon died early Sunday morning at age of 73. >> YOU CAN HEAR MORE FROM BRAD COMING UP ON WYFF NEWS AT 6:00. Radio begins assisting Coach Jones on the football team, and inspires the team before each game as a mascot-type figure. OUR ALLEN DEVLIN IS LIVE AT T.L. Perhaps nobody showed a closer bond with Radio than Jones. Kennedy began carrying a transistor radio to listen to sports and it became his nickname. By 1999, Jones was set to retire and Radio was still running strong with the team. She was recently a series regular on the Netflix series The Ranch with Ashton Kutcher and Sam Elliott. Winger gained popularity in her 20s as she is known for starring in the 1980s films An Officer and a Gentleman and Terms of Endearment. 'He always will be T.L. He was still having fun.". The association between Radio and Coach Jones is further blamed for the team's inability to win. "He just has so much love to give. "So many people loved him," said Kennedy's niece and caregiver, Jackie Kennedy. He punishes the team for their actions. MAKING FRIEN AT HIS ANNUAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE CHICK-FIL-A AND ANDERSON HIS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. And the story is simple: love and compassion can change lives. Please enter valid email address to continue. She didn't give it a second thought. And Kennedy's charity work is continuing. We didn't teach him a thing. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". His role as Radio's mentor was immortalized in the Sony Pictures film, "Radio.". As long as his health permitted, Kennedy remained a fixturein the community. His role as Radio's mentor was immortalized in the Sony Pictures film, "Radio." Radio was inducted into the T.L. His nickname, Radio, was given to him by townspeople because Kennedy grew up fascinated by radios and because of the radio he carried everywhere he went. He was born August 27, 1948 to the late Harold Jones, Sr. and Harvie Sue Darby Jones. He would often mimic the coaches on the sidelines, but instead of being a distraction, Kennedy was embraced by the school. This was the only day he didn't ride the bus to and from school, Coach Harold Jones remainedactive in Radios life. At that point, he could have been labeled a distraction and sent away. Merkerson is known more for her TV roles as she was on Law & Order from 1993-2010. Even after his passing, Kennedy's spirit lives on in Anderson and among people nationwide who saw his story. Former T.L. He was invited to attend practices for the Carolina Panthers and made a bond with Clemson University's football team, but his true love was Hanna and the students there,said Allen and Jackie Kennedy, the niece who cared for Radio since 2011. "He was nicknamed Radio by the coaches and players. Chris Kennedy said it was his mother whom he could talk to when he'd had a bad day. Kennedy was a staple on the T.L. Remembering Radio - Coach Harold Jones and others remember the longtime figure from the football FOX Carolina News 135K subscribers Subscribe 42K views 3 years ago Remembering the life of James. >> LOOKING UP TO RADIO FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE. Hanna Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.Cuba Gooding Jr., who portrayed Radio in the 2003 film, said: "Sometimes God sends us inspiration in the human form James Robert 'Radio' Kennedy was and will always be the wings to that inspiration. He was 73. It's been nearly a year since T.L. >> I AM VERY PROUD OF RADIO. Hanna High School football games for more than 50 years. NIGEL: THE T.L. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Her husband of 45 years, her children and Jones ? Until recently, the pair had kept up a regular schedule of volunteer work. He has been associated with the T.L. It does not store any personal data. What happened to radio after his mom died? In Anderson is where Kennedy's heart, and his big beaming smile, will remain. The two spent much of their time together for half a century. She won multiple Emmy Awards for her work on TV and was recently on the Netflix series Luke Cage. Hanna Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. Kennedy loved sports and rooted for many teams.
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