Page 39 - The Paduan Spring 2022

Alumni Spotlight:
Tony Kenney ’71
By: Meghan Schepis, Padua English Department Chair
In preparing students to make their mark on the world, the educators at Padua hope that Bruins will embody the mission of our shared faith as humble servants of God and others. Anthony Kenney ’71 took this vocation to heart, building a career and sponsoring an ongoing legacy based on the foundations of humility, charity, and service to others.
After 43 years with Marathon Petroleum subsidiary Speedway LLC, Tony recently retired as president, having helped to shape Speedway as one of the country’s preeminent fuel and convenience-store chains. With Tony at the helm, Speedway expanded from a Midwest-only brand
to comprise nearly 4,000 stores in 36 states with more than 35,000 employees. However, this humble man shies away from individual praise and accolades, always preferring instead to steer conversation and recognition to others.
“I’m just an ordinary guy who had the fortune to have a solid upbringing, to get a great education, and to learn what it means to have the
right work ethic.” He is perhaps most gratified by the company’s solid reputation for excellent customer service and contributions to the communities in which they operate. “To recognize the responsibility that one has to his community and to give back to that community is a privilege,” he states from his home in Springfield, Ohio.
During his tenure, Tony worked to increase and enrich the diversity
of the Speedway work force. In recognizing the inherent gifts and talents in others, Tony looked for the total person: those whose work ethic and interpersonal skills made them stand out among the rest. Furthermore, those that “wanted to do more” and who embodied a spirit of benevolence were the types of individuals he believed would – and did – boost Speedway into the community cornerstone it is today.
All these values were fostered years before Tony joined the company in 1976. Growing up in Parma Heights, Tony attended St. Bridget of Kildare School before choosing Padua Franciscan for high school. “I wasn’t the smartest kid... but there’s no substitution for hard work.” He also credits his Catholic upbringing with instilling in him a respect for traditions and values.
Tony’s compassion is perhaps most on display when he discusses the ties he fostered between Speedway and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. As one of the lead corporate sponsors for CMN,
Tony’s commitment to the children and families saw the company’s involvement reach incredible levels
of support, and in his stead, it continues to provide for more than 45 hospitals around the country.
With his recent retirement from Speedway, Tony could relax and spend time with this family—his wife, Jean, sons Raymond and John, and
four grandchildren—and while he certainly loves doing just that, his dedication to supporting communities and raising people up is a passion that cannot be contained.
Along with two other business colleagues in the Dayton area, Tony
has helped create a new, public company: Recharge Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: RCHG). A special-purpose acquisition company, Recharge Acquisition is looking to invest in convenience stores, acquiring companies and taking them public. Its IPO raised over $202 million, and with Tony positioned as CEO, it looks to continue to build on the breadth of knowledge and experience that defined his tenure at Speedway, with customer needs and wants first.
Upon his recent visit back to campus, Tony was delighted to see the many dynamic changes. He has enjoyed reconnecting with many of his classmates from the Class of 1971 through social media and recent alumni events, including a gathering at a Cleveland Indians game
for their 50th class reunion. In true generosity of spirit, to honor their milestone year, Tony and his classmates challenged one another to make donations on behalf of current and future Padua Bruins, ensuring that many more students who seek a Catholic, Franciscan education are able to get one.
Tony Kenney has taken the lessons gleaned from the halls of holiness and learning and applied them to his family, career, and personal life. And over 50 years after his time in the classrooms of Padua, he is still embracing the challenge of working for others, raising them up, and trying to lead by his example as a servant of God. A kind, generous, and humble man, the Padua community is proud and honored to recognize both him—and, in true Tony fashion, the Class of 1971, as well—as true vessels of God’s compassionate love for others.