Legends of Michiana: Joe Kernan

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Lt. Governor Joe Kernan 1998 Notre Dame Commencement Speech

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About

The Legends of Michiana documentary series focuses on people and organizations that have been influential to the growth and development of the Michiana area.

Throw out the name Joe Kernan to anyone that has lived in Indiana for quite some time and they’ll immediately think of Indiana’s 48th Governor. Those in the Michiana area will remember Joe as the former Mayor of South Bend. Few know the entire background story of this amazing individual who dedicated his life to being a public servant.

Joe Kernan is the oldest of nine children who grew up in South Bend, IN and graduated from St. Joseph High School (SB). He went on to become a catcher for the baseball team at the University of Notre Dame where he would graduate with a degree in Government in 1968.

Following graduation, Joe enlisted in the United States Navy in 1969 and served as a Naval Flight Officer. During his service, Joe was shot down in 1972 by the enemy over North Vietnam and was confined as a prisoner of war for almost 11 months. He was returned to the US in 1973 and continued to serve in the Navy until 1974. He was given numerous awards for his courageous efforts including the Navy Commendation Medal, two Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Upon his service completion, Joe worked for several companies before becoming South Bend’s city controller, and ultimately, winning the mayoral election of South Bend in 1987, 1991 and 1995. In 1996 and 2000, Joe and Frank O’Bannon were elected to the top two positions in Indiana government with Joe serving as Lieutenant Governor. Upon the passing of Frank O’Bannon in 2003, Joe assumed the position of Governor of Indiana.

Joe and his wife, Maggie, have given so much to this community and the state of Indiana through their generosity, leadership and love for the people they have served. Join WNIT as we give viewers an inside look into the life of a true visionary and community leader.

Underwritten by

ARTHUR J. DECIO

CHRIS AND CARMI MURPHY
REX AND ALICE A. MARTIN FOUNDATION


MICHAEL BROWNING

MARILYN AND MATT DEE

ANN AND BILL MOREAU, ANGIE AND PHIL FACCENDA & BARNES & THORNBURG, LLP
ROBERT BARTELS
DANIEL FITZPATRICK
DEBBIE AND RICH HILL
JOHN LARAMORE AND JANET MCCABE

JOYCE AND MATTHEW WALSH
CAROL AND JOHN ABERNETHY
ALICK'S HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
NANCY AND STEVE ANDERSON
ZOREEN AND RAFAT ANSARI
JOHN AND KATIE ANTHONY
BILLIE AND DAVE BANKOFF
ALBERTA AND MIKE BARNES
JENNIFER AND PATRICK BARTH
B. PATRICK BAUER
DEBORAH AND ROBERT BERNHARD
BILL AND BETH BINGLE
JOANN AND JOSEPH BLAZEK
DEBBIE LADYGA-BLOCK AND DON BLOCK
TED AND PEGGY BOEHM
JACK BOROWSKI
JOE AND JOHN BRODEN
JANN AND TOM BRUNNER
MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG & THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND
NANCY AND BRUCE CARTER
PAT AND GENE CAVANAUGH
PAUL CHOLIS
SEAN COLEMAN
CORGEL GROUP
DLZ INDIANA LLC
KATHY DAVIS
MARY PAT AND BOB DEPUTY
MIKKI DOBSKI-SHIDLER
JILL AND JOE DONNELLY
LINDA AND BIPIN DOSHI
GREG AND MARY DOWNES
DOWNTOWN SOUTH BEND, INC.
ELKHART CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS
ANNE FAHERTY
MEGAN AND GAVIN FERLIC
SUSAN AND TOM FISCHBACH
CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER
BARB AND STEVE FREDMAN
JODY AND MIKE FREID
ANDRE GAMMAGE
CAROLYN AND LAWRENCE GARBER
LISA AND STEVE GERBER
GARY GILOT
LISA AND JOHN GREGG
MELANIE SMITH-GUILLAUME AND ALFRED GUILLAUME
MAURA AND WALT HALLORAN
MRS. AND MR. GREGORY HAHN
HEART'S DESIRE ANTIQUE MALL
JENNIFER AND FRED HELMEN
HOLY CROSS COLLEGE
HOLY CROSS VILLAGE
HORIZON BANK
KATIE HUMPHREY & RALPH KOMASINSKI
IBEW LOCAL UNION 153
INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BEND
INNOVATIVE IMMERSIONS ®
JONES PETRIE RAFINSKI
JOAN AND YATISH JOSHI
FRANK JULIAN
CAROL AND CRAIG KAPSON
MARIJO AND KEVIN KELLY
BILL KENEALY
KARL AND MARGARET KING
JAMES KUEHL
LABORER'S LOCAL 645
JOE LOUGHREY
PEG AND STEVE LUECKE
PAUL AND JESSICA MAICH
ROSEMARY MANDRICI
MARCUS REALTY, LCC
VELVET AND DAVID MATTHEWS
SHARON MCBRIDE
MCDONALD PHYSICAL THERAPY
VICKI MCINTIRE & CHARLES HAYES
ANDREW MCKENNA
PAT AND BOBBI MCMAHON
MICHIANA ANTIQUE MALL
MIDWEST LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL
AMY AND LES MILLER
ANN AND SAM MILLIGAN
THE MILTON HOME
MONTERROSA LAW GROUP
BUTCH MORGAN
JAMES MUELLER
CRESENT MUHAMMAD
GLADYS MUHAMMAD
MARY LOU AND PETE MULLEN
PAT AND KATE MURPHY
KEVIN CHARLES MURRAY
KATHLEEN AND MARK NEAL
NEMETH, FEENEY, MASTERS & CAMPITI P.C.
TOM NEW
NIEZGODSKI PLUMBING, INC.
MARY PAT AND DICK NUSSBAUM
BOB AND CHERYL O'CONNOR
JAMES O'ROURKE
PENNY HUGHES INVESTEMENTS
PERSONNEL PARTNERS INC.
PFEIFER, MORGAN & STESIAK
LAURA AND DAVE PFLUM
CARMEN PIASECKI
RSM
BILL REDMAN
RIVER BEND HOSE SPECIALTY
ROOFING PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL
KAREN AND DON SCHEFMEYER
LORRIE AND BILL SCHMUHL
FRANKLIN SCHURZ
SENIOR1CARE AND LEGACY CNA TRAINING
SEW CREATIVE THREADS
BONNIE AND HARRY SHAFFER
LYNDA AND CHARLES SIMON
SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL
SOUTH BEND CUBS
SOUTH BEND MUSEUM OF ART
ST. ANDREWS PRODUCTS
ST. JOE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL

MARY JANE STANLEY
STEEL WAREHOUSE
JOYCE AND DICK STIFEL
BILL STUART
CHERYL G. SULLIVAN AND FRANK SULLIVAN, JR.
SUNNY ITALY CAFÉ
ANN MARIE AND SCOTT THOMAS
JANET AND LARRY THOMPSON
MARY LOU AND DENNIS TOOLAN
KATIE AND BRAD TOOTHAKER
DEB AND BOB URBANSKI
VAN HORNE JEWELERS
DIA AND JOHN WALSH
KAREN WHITE
CAITLIN WORM
YELLOW ROSE FLORIST