Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame
A native of Channing, Texas, Kennedy was a tremendous breakaway roper and a member of the greatest rodeo team in Chadron State history. Joining with Jean Fuchs and Martee Meter, Kathy helped Chadron State win the women’s team trophy at 14 of 23 rodeos and the regional championships during both of her years at the college. The team finished fourth in the national team standings in 1978-79.
Kathy was the Great Plains Region’s breakaway roping champion in 1978-79 and also was the national breakaway champion in that year, when her times at the finals rodeo were 5.45, 2.87 and 3.47 seconds. The following year, Chadron State switched to the Central Rocky Mountain Region, and Kennedy again was the regional breakaway champion. She also frequently placed in goat tying.
Kathy was the youngest person to be inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame. She died of breast cancer on Aug. 22, 1981 before she had graduated. She was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, in June 2002.
