Dr. Kenneth L. Bradshaw of Clinton passed away July 7, 2025. He was surrounded and survived by his wife, Janice and her three children, Holly, Scott, and John.
Kenn was born in Port Arthur, Texas on November 13, 1943, to Kenneth L. Bradshaw and Ottis B. Bradshaw. They settled in Los Alamos, New Mexico where his dad ran the power plants for the U.S. government. He and his younger sister, Dorthy, along with others in the city, practiced scenarios for their immediate withdrawal in the event of invading Russian troops.
Growing up, Kenn was very involved in the orchestra and marching band, playing a wide range of woodwind instruments. After suffering from polio, he became a champion swimmer culminating in a state championship in the "butterfly" stroke.
In 1959, the family moved to Lahore, West Pakistan (now Pakistan) where his dad worked to electrify villages throughout the northern region. Kenn was badly injured in a bicycle accident. Prior to returning to the United States for treatment, he took a lengthy trip throughout Europe with his fencing foils in hand and skills, he convinced people his scars were from duels. He arrived back in Oklahoma to attend Ardmore High School where he was a complete fascination to the local girls. At the end of the term, he transferred to Oklahoma Military Academy.
Upon graduating, he returned home to New Mexico and enrolled at the University of New Mexico where he majored in Pre-Med. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity where he introduced his fraternity brother, and future brother-in-law, H.R. Bourland, to his sister, Dorthy.
After graduating and wanting to serve, he went off to Marine Corps OCS while his now brother-in-law, H.R., went to Naval flight training in Pensacola, Florida. Kenn was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1967 and went directly to Vietnam. He was twice wounded in battle and awarded numerous medals by the Marine Corps. Kenn was then sent to Okinawa, Japan which he greatly enjoyed. While he was there, he honed his life-long interest in photography and sent home amazing pictures.
At the end of his service to the Marine Corps, he returned to the states. Once home, he recalled the severe foot problems he and other Marines developed and decided to become a Doctor of Podiatry. He graduated from the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine and served his residency at the Leavenworth, Kansas V.A. hospital. He often traveled back to New Mexico, where his mother lived, and San Diego and Washington, D.C. where the Bourland family was stationed.
After completing his residency, he moved to Clinton where he had a long and fulfilling practice, helping countless patients throughout the community until his retirement. He remained a resident of Clinton until his passing. He is survived by his sister, Dorthy K. Bourland of North Carolina and her husband of 59 years Captain H.R. Bourland, USN (ret.); his niece Stephanie Bourland, her husband, Seth Cohen, and their daughter, Gracie; and his nephew and close friend, Andrew Bourland and his wife, Kathy Hutchison, all of North Carolina. He is also survived by the Byrd cousins Lynda and Madelon and their families and many distant cousins in Northern Texas.
Kenn was a patriot, a good friend and a wonderful son, brother, uncle, and husband, and will be greatly missed.
