A Trip of Gratitude
Published continually since 1994
As spring neared its end, so did our precious time with Kenny, our beloved Lehigh brother, our heart and soul. Naturally, we did what he taught us to do: we showed up, a group of unified men on a mission.
We came to Orlando from Florida, yes, but also from New York, California, New Jersey, Alabama, Tennessee, and even Hong Kong.
We came to honor our brother. We came to comfort his family. We came to talk about all the good times. And, most of all, we came to say, “thank you” to Charles Kenneth “Kenny” Joseph, Jr., our beloved #70, who passed away on April 29.
He was 55 years old.
For nine months, Kenny waged a courageous fight against pancreatic cancer, a tooth-and-nail battle with the former offensive guard brawling in the trenches like only he could. It was vintage #70 and not surprising since that’s what he’d done his whole life from Lake Howell High School to Davidson College to Lehigh.
Under the late, inimitable Fred Mariani, the Lehigh offensive line was known as “The Chain Gang” from 1986-93, a nod to our goal of keeping the sticks moving by cranking out the yards and doling out punishment. And, as an LU player and coach for five of those seasons, it’s safe to say that Kenny - an all-Patriot League guard - was the pulse of the high-performing group.
How good was the Lehigh offense in those days? Well, the 1991 team - Kenny’s senior season - averaged 33 points a game and routinely bludgeoned its elite Division I-AA (FCS) opponents while finishing fifth in the nation in yards gained.
In late October against #3-ranked Holy Cross, LU tallied 42 points and a whopping 34 first downs in a one-point defeat. A week later vs. William & Mary, which was ranked #3 earlier in the year, the Engineers rolled up 654 yards in a 41-37 victory. Then, most importantly, Lehigh laid the wood to Lafayette in the season finale, a 36-18 beatdown that wasn’t nearly as close as the score suggests.
Throughout his college career, #70 was known for knocking defenders silly, but the biggest play of his remarkable career was in the aforementioned Holy Cross game, a two-point conversation run (!) via the fumblerooskie to give Lehigh a late 36-35 lead.
Yes, in the biggest moment of the biggest game of coach Hank Small’s football career, he put the ball in the hands of an offensive guard who’d never touched the pill before. That’s how trustworthy Kenny was.
The clip, I can promise you, is worth the watch and re-watch.
The fact that a guard like Kenny - very generously listed at 5’11” - was in position to impact a Division I football program was a true testament to his desire to be great, his willingness to go the extra mile. Of course, it was fitting that he landed at LU under Coach Fred, an undersized, yet passionate all-league guard at Division II St. Joseph’s (Ind.) College in the early 1970s.
Though #70 didn’t meet some ideal football measurables, he was intensely physical and brought enough thunder to make you think he was 6’5”. If you stood around a pile with KJ in the vicinity, you were going to get your clock cleaned in a hurry.
Kevin Higgins, a 48-year coaching veteran who was at Lehigh during Kenny’s playing career and later spent time with teams like the Detroit Lions and Wake Forest, said this in a video tribute to Ken in late April:
“…I don’t know if I’ve ever been around a tougher, more physical football player than you. I have so much respect for who you are and what you stand for…”
Ritchie Owens, a Lehigh alum who played eight years as an NFL defensive end, said the hardest hit he ever absorbed in his life was at an LU practice when he made the mistake of trying to take Kenny head on with #70 pulling in his direction.
“My back was the first thing to hit the ground and the strings on my shoulder pads popped off,” he recounted. “I realized quickly I better figure some things out or I was going to get killed.”
But, as outstanding as Kenny was on the football field, he was even better off of it. The man was compassionate, caring and well-intentioned, just as he was taught by the incomparable Charles Kenneth Joseph, Sr., and Joyce - “Mr. and Mrs. J”. Indeed, they raised Kenny and his siblings, Joy and Tom, with love while continually teaching them how to live right.
Kenny’s love for others was never more evident than when he was with the three most important people in his life - his daughters, Lily and Charliann - and his fiancé and soulmate, Wendy. The thought of leaving the three of them was his greatest fear but, oh man, he passed along so many life lessons to them.
One message that Kenny consistently preached and exuded was toughness - a Joseph family hallmark - and that was evident until the very end. And we were privileged to witness it.
My teammate Doug Scott (#79) and I visited Kenny eight days before he passed, and #70 was in excruciating pain as the cancer spread. He was also exhausted and needed rest. But he fought tooth and nail to stay awake for nearly four hours to visit with the two of us, giving us his full attention even as his body was ravaged. Warrior.
Later that week, with his passing imminent, several of us gathered around his hospital bed and he asked our teammate Calvin Hobbs to pray as we all clasped hands. Calvin thanked God for Kenny and for how he mentored and influenced us. Then, #70 led us in an emotional Lord’s Prayer and, when he concluded, locked eyes with his crew.
Gesturing towards us, Kenny said, “Once more, hands in,” and we did as our leader asked, just as we had many times before. A group of men connected by a great sport that nurtured us and gave us an uncompromising love for one another.
“One…two…three,” he led us, before we all said, “Chain Gang!” in unison.
Hours later, #70 passed peacefully, the saddest moment of a highly emotional week. Yet, the most prevalent emotion was pure unadulterated gratitude. Gratitude for who Kenny was and for all he did for us, and so many others.
In the days leading up to Kenny’s passing, dozens of his former teammates and coaches sent videos for him to view. They were unfiltered with “thank you” and “I love you” the most repeated words.
They thanked Kenny because he gave of himself from his first day until his last, continually pouring his energy into others.
They thanked him for taking them under his wing.
They thanked him for showing them how to practice and lead.
They thanked him for a book’s worth of life lessons.
They thanked him for making them feel valued and loved.
Yes, Charles Kenneth “Kenny” Joseph, Jr. left this earth far too soon but, oh, what a life. What a lasting legacy. What a man to remember.
How can we be anything but thankful for that?
Randy, thanks for keeping all of us who couldn't be there in the loop. Rest in Power, Kenny!
RDubs - this is was beautiful. Thank you for putting this out there.