Betty Ann Kennedy
Betty Ann Kennedy (born 1930) is an American bridge player from Shreveport, Louisiana. She has won five world championships including four from 1974 to 1984 in partnership with Carol Sanders of Tennessee and the 2003 Venice Cup. Analyst Eric Kokish wrote concerning the 2003 final match that "Kennedy was a standout, doing virtually nothing wrong."
Kennedy is descended from Robert E. Lee on her father's side and from Mary Todd Lincoln on her mother's side. She studied bridge on her doctor's recommendation when she suffered from encephalitis and consequent depression.
Sanders and Kennedy were known as the Southern Belles or simply The Belles. They compiled 10 NABC wins and 8 runners-up together. Their partnership is regarded as one of the best ever.
In 1993 Kennnedy became the second woman to receive the Louisiana Hall of Fame Award. She was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2005. She received the ACBL's annual sportsmanship award in 2011.
Kennedy and her husband Jack, another bridge player, have four children.
Bridge accomplishments
Honors
- Louisiana Hall of Fame, 1993
- ACBL Hall of Fame, 2005
- Sidney Lazard Jr. Sportsmanship Award, 2011
Wins
- North American Bridge Championships (15)
- Whitehead Women's Pairs (1) 1993
- Smith Life Master Women's Pairs (2) 1990, 2008
- Machlin Women's Swiss Teams (3) 1983, 1995, 2002
- Wagar Women's Knockout Teams (7) 1978, 1980, 1983, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2009
- Sternberg Women's Board-a-Match Teams (2) 1992, 1995
Runners-up
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