May 26, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. –
“Never An Excuse To Quit – Joe Kernan, Loyal Son,” a documentary highlighting the life of former Indiana governor and baseball Monogram winner Joe Kernan (’68), will be featured on WNDU-TV in South Bend as part of a special Memorial Day of programming Monday on the network.
The documentary, produced by Big Idea Company and funded by the Monogram Club, will air at 5:30 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m. as part of the syndicated program, “American Dream.”
“American Dream” is a bi-annual anthology series devoted to uplifting stories of people who’ve done incredible things with their lives. These are typically stories that have never been told before or offer a unique perspective.
Kernan, a two-time baseball Monogram winner, served the United States for the past six decades as both a naval officer and government official. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1969 upon graduating from Notre Dame and in May 1972, was shot down over North Vietnam and was held as a prisoner of war for nearly 11 months. For his service, Kernan received numerous awards, including the Navy Commendation Medal, two Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Kernan was first elected to public office in 1987 when he became mayor of South Bend. He was appointed lieutenant governor of the Hoosier State by then-governor Frank O’Bannon in 1996, and took over as governor following O’Bannon’s death in 2003. As governor, he advocated services for military veterans and provided higher education opportunities for Indiana citizens while leading the state during a productive and successful term in office.
Following his term, Kernan returned to private life in 2005, where he and a group of investors saved the South Bend Silver Hawks from being moved from South Bend and was the managing member of the Silver Hawks from 2006-2011.
— ND —