1977 Profile: Jim Kensil

PRESIDENT
"Jim Kensil, one of the most respected administrators in the National Football League, had to move only several blocks from Park to Madison Avenue when he was named the Jets' new President and Chief Operating Officer on June 6.
For the past nine years, Kensil has been Executive Director of the NFL, the man Pete Rozelle called 'my offensive and defensive coordinator.' For seven years before that, he was the NFL's public relations director.
'Jim Kensil has had a wide-ranging background,' said Jets owners Mrs. Helen Dillon, Leon Hess and Townsend Martin in a statement. 'He fully understands and is superbly equipped to take on the tough job of administering a pro football team. He will have full responsibility ... '
Kensil succeeds Hess, who had served as acting President since January following the death of Phil Iselin. Hess will now take on the responsibilities of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for Corporate Matters.
One of Kensil's biggest boosters is Rozelle, who says, 'Jim will work as hard- probably harder- than any club president. He's honest and completely dedicated.'
Kensil's 16 years of experience in the NFL office will be invaluable to the Jets. 'I think it's good after a long number of years in one position to take over a new one where you can still use the experience accumulated during that time,' he says.
'I want to help continue the Jets' resurgence started with Al Ward and Walt Michaels. I'm interested in working with people. That's how you achieve things.'
After graduating from Pennsylvania in 1952, Kensil went to work for the Associated Press in New York on the sports and news desk before being drafted. He served in Germany and edited the Seventh Army newspaper.
Kensil returned to the AP in 1954 and worked nearly two years in Columbus, Ohio before coming back to the New York bureau, where he covered general sports assignments, edited the Sports Wire and wrote a weekly column about sports called 'The Sports Dial.' He left the Associated Press in 1961 to join the NFL as public relations director.
Kensil was born August 19, 1930 in Philadelphia, PA. He and his wife, Catherine, have four children and reside in Massapequa, Long Island. Their oldest son, Mike, 21, is an administrative assistant for the Jets. They also have two other sons, Joe, 19, and Danny, 15, and a daughter, Mary Jo, 17."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide