MSU Cross Country and Track & Field All-American Crawford “Forddy” Kennedy Passes Away

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Former Michigan State cross country and track & field All-American Crawford “Forddy” Kennedy passed away at the age of 87 in Pigeon, Michigan, on April 20. 

Crawford, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, was a three-year letterwinner at MSU and was inducted into the inaugural class of Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992 alongside his brother Henry. 

Crawford’s career in East Lansing was highlighted by an individual championship at the 1958 NCAA Cross Country Championships, where he also led the Spartans to the team title. The Spartans won a second-straight team title in 1959 and finished second in 1957, with Crawford finishing fifth individually in 1957 and third in 1959. He also won the Big Ten Cross Country individual title in 1959 and captured runner-up finishes in 1957 and 1958.  

On the track, Crawford specialized in the two mile-run, earning a Big Ten title in 1959. He also earned an IC4A title and collected All-American honors in the event. 

After graduating in 1959, Crawford served as a teacher at Clio and Farmington High Schools. In 1965, he accepted a position at Delta College as a professor where he taught and coached and served as the chair of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department. 

Crawford’s obituary can be found here.