[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 14 (Thursday, February 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E215]]
        CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE IN MARRIAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LINCOLN DAVIS

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 10, 2005

  Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, Sam and Betty Kennedy of 
Columbia started their life together on November 6, 1954, at the 
Methodist Church, in the small Tennessee community of Culleoka. They 
reached the 50 year milestone on November 6, 2004, and celebrated this 
occasion with family and friends at Greenway Farms, their home for more 
than 40 years, a few weeks later.
  Sam, the fifth of eight children, grew up the son of a dentist and 
farmer, Dr. Henry Grady and Annie Porter Delk Kennedy, farm wife and 
teacher. An attorney and newspaper publisher, Sam has served as general 
sessions judge, district attorney and county executive of Maury County.
  Raised the daughter of Columbia Daily Herald Editor and Publisher 
John and Elizabeth Read Ridley Finney, Betty attended Agnes Scott 
College and Emory University's School of Journalism. According to 
family lore, Sam and Betty met on a street in Columbia in 1953 when 
Betty was soliciting newspaper advertising. During the following months 
their courtship continued and they fell in love.
  After the passing of Betty's father John Finney, Sam left his law 
career and with Betty led the Daily Herald, as publisher until 1983 
when the paper was sold. Today, they own and operate the Lawrence 
County Advocate, the Waverly News Democrat, the News Leader, and the 
Buffalo River Review.
  Over their 50 year marriage, Sam and Betty have been blessed with two 
children and five grandchildren.
  Sam Kennedy, Jr. is an assistant U.S. Attorney and is married to Mary 
Susan Betty Kennedy, a business professor at Columbia State Community 
College. Their son, Sam Kennedy III is a junior at the University of 
North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Their daughter, Berry, is a freshman at 
Yale.
  Elizabeth Kennedy Blackstone is the editor of the Parsons News 
Leader. She is married to Billy Blackstone, a partner with the law firm 
of Stokes, Bartholomew, Evans and Petree. The Blackstones have three 
children--Emory, Jack, and Eliza. We all should take a moment and 
applaud their accomplishment and their commitment to one another.

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