The Rev. Dana Kennedy among Husson honorees

BANGOR – Two members of the Husson College Class of 1938 will receive honorary degrees at the 107th Husson College commencement ceremonies 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 13. Woodrow Cross, president and CEO of Cross Insurance, will receive an honorary doctorate of business administration and the Rev. Dana F. Kennedy will receive an honorary doctorate of public service.

At two commencement ceremonies, one in Bangor and one in Portland, Husson College will award nearly 400 undergraduate and graduate degrees. U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins will deliver the Bangor commencement address.

The Rev. Dana Kennedy grew up in Bangor and Milbridge. He entered Husson during the Depression era and graduated from the three-year teacher training program. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, studied at Bangor Theological Seminary, and Andover Newton Seminary. In 1945, he received a master’s degree in theological studies.

Kennedy served parishes in Lynn, Mass., and Woonsocket, R.I. He worked for the National Council of the Episcopal Church of Westport, Conn., as host of a weekly radio interview show. That program was broadcast on 400 U.S. stations as well as Armed Forces Network and Radio Free Europe. He became rector of the Episcopal Church in Westport and wrote the best-seller “My Very First Golden Bible” for Golden Books that sold more than 350,000 copies.

He retired in 1989 and moved to Milbridge where he became active in the community. He currently serves as moderator at town meetings, and as president of the library and of the Milbridge Historical Society board of directors. He speaks Spanish and works with the immigrant children of Washington County. He and his wife Thelma are valued members of the community.