Stripper's Guide: Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Dick Kennedy

Thursday, August 09, 2018

Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Dick Kennedy

Richard J. “Dick” Kennedy was born on March 6, 1897, in New York according to his World War I New York military service card. In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Kennedy was the only child of James and Mary, both native New Yorkers. The trio were part of Kennedy’s paternal grandfather’s household. They resided in Fishkill, New York.

Kennedy and his parents were New York City residents in the 1905 New York state census. The lived in Manhattan at 230 East 42nd Street. Kennedy’s father was a driver.

In the 1910 census, Kennedy’s Manhattan address was 1108 Park Avenue. His father continued as a driver for the parks department.

Kennedy enlisted in the New York National Guard on July 12, 1917. During Kennedy’s service, he contributed illustrations to the 27th Division’s publication, Wadsworth Gas Attack and The Rio Grande Rattler which debuted November 23, 1917. It was retitled Gas Attack of the New York Division on March 2, 1918. Kennedy’s illustration can be viewed in the following issues.

November 23, 1917, here and here
November 27, 1917, here, here and here
December 8, 1917, here, here, here, here, here and here
December 15, 1917, here and here
December 22, 1917, here, here, here and here
December 29, 1917, here
January 5, 1918, here, here, here, here, here, here and here
January 12, 1918, here, here, here, here and here
January 19, 1918, here, here, here and here
January 26, 1918, here, here, here, here, here and here
February 9, 1918, here and here
February 16, 1918, here
March 2, 1918, here and here
March 9, 1918, here
March 16, 1918, here
March 30, 1918, here and here
April 6, 1918, here and here
April 13, 1918, here, here, here and here
April 20, 1918, here
April 27, 1918, here, here, here and here
May 4, 1918, here

Kennedy was honorably discharged on April 4, 1919.

According to the 1920 census, Kennedy was a self-employed cartoonist who lived with his parents in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Four months after the census enumeration, Kennedy married Mabel Butler on May 29 in Manhattan.

The 1925 New York state census recorded cartoonist Kennedy, his wife, son and daughter in the Bronx at 3162 Bainbridge Avenue.

American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Kennedy drew The Whole Dam Family from August 26 to September 9, 1927 for the PNF Syndicate.

Two more daughters joined the Kennedy household in the 1930 census. The self-employed advertising artist’s address was 325 East 238th Street in the Bronx.

In 1940 Kennedy had six children. The family resided in the Bronx on Tiebout Avenue near 187th Street. Kennedy was a WPA Project teacher.

Kennedy’s military service resumed in World War II. On December 13, 1940, Kennedy was a first lieutenant in the 8th Regiment of the New York National Guard. Kennedy was promoted to captain on February 19, 1941. He was transferred to headquarters on August 17, 42. Kennedy’s rank was major on July 16, 1943. He was assigned to 8th Regiment, 1st Battalion. After the war Kennedy was a Lt. Colonel in the 8th Infantry on March 28, 1946.

Kennedy was found in three Beacon, New York city directories. In 1955 he was a salesman who lived on Main Street. The 1957 and 1958 directories listed Kennedy as a machine operator in Poughkeepsie. He still lived in Beacon.

Kennedy passed away February 9, 1962, in New York, according to a military application for a headstone. Kennedy’s home address was 413 Main Street in Beacon. He was laid to rest at St. Joachims Cemetery.

—Alex Jay

Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles