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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. Jeff Hennessy (Deceased)
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Home Phone: 337-839-0917 Jefferson T. Hennessy, Jr. September 14, 1956 to August 21, 2016 Jefferson Hennessy died at the age of 59 in Broussard, Louisiana, on August 21, 2016. He was the oldest child of One of Jeff’s proudest achievements was as a contributing writer for Acadiana Profile magazine in Lafayette. Jeff’s love of music, especially 1960s rock and roll, was evident from his large and devoted following on At the time of his death, Jeff was completing the manuscript for a book, which will be published later in 2016, After graduating from Lafayette High School in 1974, Jeff attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana Since an early age, Jeff’s two driving passions were writing and music. He traveled the nation in pursuit In addition to his creative and magazine writing, in recent years Jeff worked as a technical writer in the Jeff is survived by his mother, Ruth Hennessy of Broussard, Louisiana, his sister Leigh Hennessy Robson A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 27, at David Funeral Home, 316 Youngsville Highway, * * * * * * * Jefferson T. Hennessy Sr. Memorial services for Jefferson T. Hennessy Sr, age 85 will be held at David Funeral Home at 316 Youngsville Hwy in Lafayette Saturday March 28, 2015 at 3:00PM. Visitation will begin at 2:00PM Saturday March 28, 2015 in the funeral home. “Coach†Jeff Hennessy, the former Distinguished Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, died at the age of 85 in Lafayette, Louisiana, on March 24 following an extended illness. He was renowned internationally as the “father†of the sport of trampoline, coaching numerous world and national champions and serving as United States team coach from 1964 to 1980. He also played a key role in getting trampoline accepted into the Olympic Games, and he was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1992. Jefferson Thomas Hennessy, Sr., son of Lera Bryant Hennessy (deceased) and Leo James Hennessy (deceased), was born on October 27, 1929, in Ancon, Canal Zone, Panama but relocated to Monroe, Louisiana, in 1941 on the eve of World War II. He graduated from Neville High School in Monroe and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1951. While at Northwestern, Hennessy was a member of the swimming and gymnastics teams. He won the Southern AAU National springboard diving championship twice and was introduced to trampoline through George Nissen, the inventor of the modern trampoline. After working as a math and social studies teacher, as well as a football and track coach in the Ouachita Parish School system in Monroe, Hennessy returned to Northwestern as an instructor of Physical Education and coach of the university’s swimming, diving, and gymnastics teams; he completed his Master of Science degree in Education at Northwestern in 1958. In 1959, Hennessy moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he became Associate Professor of Physical Education at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette). He was director of the gymnastics and trampoline programs, quickly establishing the trampoline program as the best in the world and bringing international acclaim to the city and university. Hennessy was instrumental in establishing the first trampoline World Championships, which were held in London, England, in 1964. He hosted the 1966 World Championships at UL, and in 2014 he was a distinguished guest at the 50th anniversary World Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida. In addition, he was a member of the United States Olympic Committee for Gymnastics. As a coach, Hennessy led the U.S. team in nine World Championships. His athletes won a total of 26 World Championship medals. Most notable among his athletes were his daughter, Leigh Hennessy, who won two World Championships; national champion and 1969 Miss America Judith Ford; World Champion and 1984 Olympic diving medalist Ron Merriott; World Champions Don Waters, Gary Smith, Bobby Neely, Jim Cartledge, and Wayne Miller; and National Champions Jimmy Yongue and Stuart Ransom. His athletes won more National Championships than he was able to recall. As a measure of his accomplishments, his gym on the UL campus produced more world and national trampoline champions than anywhere else in the nation. In addition, his UL gymnastics team was undefeated in 1960 and 1961, and the trampoline team was National AAU Champions from 1964 to 1975 and 1979 to 1981. Hennessy was named UL Distinguished Professor in 1982 and retired in 1986. He was the author three books and numerous articles about trampoline. Chief among his many awards were membership in the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame, the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, the World Acrobatics Society Hall of Fame, and the U.S. Trampoline Association Hall of Fame. He was also named the Amateur Athletic Union Outstanding Coach of the Year in 1970 and 1972 and the American Trampoline and Tumbling Association Outstanding Coach of the Year in 1982. “Coach,†as he was affectionately known around the world, is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth Hennessy of Broussard, Louisiana; his son Jefferson T. Hennessy Jr. of Houston, Texas; his daughter Leigh Hennessy of New Orleans, Louisiana; and his daughter Kay Hennessy of Phoenix, Arizona. He is survived by his wife Ruth West Hennessy of Broussard, Louisiana, and three children: Jefferson Thomas Hennessy, Jr., Houston, Texas; Leigh Hennessy Robson and her husband Mark Robson, New Orleans, Louisiana; and Kay Hennessy, Phoenix, Arizona. He is survived by one sister, Lera Hennessy Harris and her husband William “Bill†Harris and their son Scott; another sister, Kathleen Hennessy Neal (deceased) and her husband Jackie Neal of Monroe, Louisiana, and nephew Mark Neal of Monroe, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the “Jeff T. Hennessy Award†that was established by the USA Gymnastics Foundation in 2003 to provide scholarships for trampoline and tumbling athletes. To make a donation, please mail to: The Hennessy Scholarship Fund, c/o USA Gymnastics, 132 E. Washington St., Ste. 700, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.davidfuneralhome.org David Funeral Home316 Youngsville Hwy 337-837-9887 is in charge of arrangements. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Former Gymnastics/Trampoline: Worldwide trampoline legend Hennessy dies Kevin Foote, The Advertiser, March 26, 2015 Former UL trampoline coach Jeff Hennessy, right, with his 1977 team, including world-famous daughter Leigh Hennessy, second from left on the bottom row. Hennessy died Tuesday evening at the age of 85.(Photo: Photo courtesy of athleticnetwork.net) In UL athletic discussions between Ragin’ Cajun fans over the decades, his name may not have come up very often. But very few coaches or athletes representing the university achieved more in this life than Jeff Hennessy. The longtime USA Trampolining coach and UL physical education professor died Tuesday night at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center after a lengthy illness. The 85-year-old was a resident of Broussard at the time of his death. Hennessy’s list of achievements during his distinguished coaching career is almost too large to detail. For starters, he was the USA Trampolining team coach from 1964-1980. His Wikipedia biography says that he coached more national and world champions during that period than anyone in the nation. Throughout that time, his primary occupation was being an associate professor of physical education at UL from 1959 to 1986. “I went to USL in the late 1970s,†son-in-law Mark Robson said. “At that time, he was like a rock star on the campus at USL. He was producing national and world champions with his trampoline teams. They were traveling the world. They competed in Russia and all over the world. It was a big deal back then.†Robson, who came to USL from Scotland to play and later coach soccer, married Hennessy’s prize pupil — his daughter Leigh. Leigh Hennessy is the all-time national leader in national trampoline championships, and like her father, also coached the U.S. national team. She’s also been in the movies as a stunt woman and an actress. Leigh and Robson are currently living in New Orleans. In 2007, the Hennessys became the first father-daughter pair ever inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. “Anyone who ever said ‘Jeff just did this’ or ‘Jeff just did that’ didn’t know him very well,†said Ed Dugas, a former UL professer college and current coordinator of athleticnetwork.net, a website dedicated to former UL athletes and coaches. “In addition to working a full load as a college professor, he would put together world events and coached athletes that would excel against the best in the world.†Among his countless international feats, he coached the first USA team to compete in the Soviet Union in 1974. He was a U.S. delegate to Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965. On the collegiate level, he led UL gymnastics teams to undefeated records in 1960 and 1961. He led the trampoline team to the NAIA national championship in 1969. On the AAU circuit, his trampoline teams won national titles from 1964 to 1975 and from 1979-81. “He was a great teacher,†said Brian Butcher, who was coached by Hennessy at UL from 1969-72. “He was well-respected around the world. “He was a trailblazer in the sport. He latched on to it and had great success.†In addition to his daughter, Hennessy’s list of champion pupils is a long one, ranging from 1984 Olympic diving medalist Ron Merriott, national champion and 1969 Miss America Judith Ford and world champions Stuart Ransom, Jimmy Yongue, Don Waters, Wayne Miller and Gary Smith. Smith currently owns Acadiana Gymnastics, which he started in 1977, after being coached by Hennessy at UL from 1969-73. Dugas said few realize that Hennessy also was an expert videographer for the football team and men’s basketball teams during his time as a UL professor. After retiring in 1986, Hennessy remained an advocate for trampolining. He played a vital role in trampoline finally becoming an Olympic sport in 2000 in Sydney. Nephew Mark Neal said Hennessy was also the most sought-after expert witness nationally for trials involving trampoline accidents after his retirements. “He was very innovative,†Dugas said. “He was a great promoter. He was tremendous for our university.†David’s Funeral Home of Broussard is handling arrangements. A funeral service is planned for Saturday. Athletic Network Footnote by Ed Dugas. * * * * * * * * * * Leigh Hennessy Inducted into USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame Former UL Athlete Leigh Hennessy Inducted into USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame by Mark B. Robson Leigh Hennessy, who won numerous national and world championships while competing as a member of the UL trampoline team in the 1970�s, was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame during the 2007 Visa Championships in San Jose, California, in August. Leigh was raised in Lafayette and earned a B.A. as well as a master’s degree in communication at UL. The USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame is the ultimate honor that is bestowed on only a small number of gymnasts and coaches who reached the highest level in their respective sports. Her father, the legendary UL trampoline coach, Jeff Hennessy, was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1992. They are the only father-daughter team in the Hall of Fame. Other members of the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame include Olympic gold medal winners Bart Conner, Mary Lou Retton, Peter Vidmar, Kerri Strug, Dominique Dawes, and Shannon Miller. During her acceptance speech in San Jose, Leigh noted that becoming a world champion while a member of the UL trampoline team �was not an unattainable, unimaginable goal.� In fact, because she was surrounded by national and world champions, and coached by the most successful trampoline coach in history, it was considered normal. Leigh won her first world title at the age of 14 at the World Age-Group Championships. Later, as a UL student-athlete, she won many more world titles, bringing even greater fame and prestige to a UL trampoline team that Jeff Hennessy had groomed into the best in the world. In 1978, Leigh was the first athlete, male or female, to win all three trampoline events at a national championships. She eventually earned a place in Guinness World Records for winning the most US national championships for women. At the 1978 World Age-Group Championships, she also won all three events. That same year at the World Championships, she set the world record score for women�s double mini-tramp, a record that stood until 1992. She was named the Southern AAU Athlete of the Year in 1978. The International Trampoline Federation honored her in 1982 for her lifetime achievements, and she is also a member of World Acrobatics Society Hall of Fame. As a world-class athlete, Leigh represented the United States around the world, and in 1974 she was a member of the first U.S. trampoline team to compete in the Soviet Union. Over the past several years, Leigh has established herself as a leading actress and stunt performer in film and television. Her most notable credits include working as Demi Moore’s stunt double in GI Jane and starring in the opening scenes of The Guardian with Kevin Costner, for which she was nominated for a Taurus World Stunt Award in 2007. Leigh currently lives in Van Nuys, California. Leigh joined her father in the Hall of Fame in 2007, making the Hennessys the only father and daughter in the Hall of Fame. Mark B. Robson received his Ph.D. in English Literature from UL in 1984. He played and coached soccer for UL, leading the team to its first championship in 1976. He is a freelance writer in Los Angeles. Posted September 10, 2007 http://www.trampoline-usa.com A Lifetime of Trampoline is a brief history of trampoline coach, Jeff T. Hennessy, who currently resides in Broussard, Louisiana. Also included are four photo galleries that capture over fifty years of world travel, Hennessy family activities, World Trampoline Champions coached by Hennessy, and fellow trampoline and double mini-tramp athletes from across the USA and around the world. Hennessy’s articles page lists a variety of technical publications and essays on the subjects of trampoline and springboard diving. Autobiography of Jeff T. Hennessy In 1964 I decided to focus my efforts full-time on the sport of trampoline – after working hours. The University of Southwestern was my trampoline home base from 1964 to 1986 when I retired as an associate professor. I am proud to say that during this period of time there were more trampoline and double mini-tramp world and national champions produced in our little gym in Lafayette, LA than in any other place in the USA. Some Achievements Member of US Olympic Elected Chairman of the “Distinguished Professor” International Trampoline Gymnastics Hall of Fame Federation International “Jeff T. Hennessy National Gymnastics
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