Crawford E. Kennedy

Crawford E. “Forddy” Kennedy, 87, of Pigeon, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2023 at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe.

Crawford was born June 19, 1935 in Glasgow, Scotland to the late Robert and Jean Kennedy.  He attended Elder Park Elementary and Govan High School in Glasgow.  Crawford always wanted to be a soccer player but discovered he had a natural ability for running.  At the age of sixteen he joined the Bellahouston Running Club in Scotland at the urging of his brother, Henry.

Crawford was drafted into mandatory military service in 1953 and served two years in the Royal Air Force.  He continued running while in the Air Force on the Air Force cross country team.

Crawford was recruited by Michigan State University to be a member of their cross-country team and offered a full scholarship.  He was very successful at Michigan State winning the 1958 NCAA National Championship in cross country and leading MSU to the team championship.  In his years at MSU he was a three-time cross country All American, 1958 NCAA cross country champion, and won the 1959 Big Ten Cross Country and two-mile champion.

Upon graduation from MSU in 1959, Crawford taught at Clio High and Farmington High School.  In 1965, he accepted a position at Delta College as a professor where he taught and coached.  He served as the chair of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department.

On February 22, 1986, he married Ann McAulay of Pigeon.  The two enjoyed traveling including trips to Scotland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Rome, the Mediterranean, and Paris and Dunkirk in France.

In 1992, Kennedy, along with his brother, Henry, were inducted into the first class of the Michigan State University Hall of Fame for their accomplishments in Track and Field and Cross Country.  Between Kennedy and his brother, Henry, they received five All-American awards.

Crawford is survived by his wife Ann; sons Andrew (Debra) of California, Robert of Howell and Glen (Roxanne) of California; grandchildren Maclaine, Jackson, Paul, Mary Grace, Sean, Elizabeth, Scout and Emmett; great-grandchildren Lilly, Liam and Olivia; brother Henry of Florida; and sister Elizabeth (Ron) Ferguson of Ontario.  He was preceded in death by daughter-in-law Mary Pat and sister-in-law Martha.

Funeral services will be at 11:00am Monday, April 24th at the Champagne Funeral Chapel with Rev. David Leineke officiating.  Visitation will be Noon to 5:00pm Sunday.

Memorials may be made to the Pigeon Lions Club or the charity of the donor’s choice.