Lowell McAdam and Tom Kennedy built very different careers in the United States. McAdam became a prominent telecommunications executive, eventually serving as chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications, while Kennedy became a familiar face of American television through decades of game-show hosting. Their professional paths, education, family backgrounds and public profiles are notably different, with McAdam’s career centered on business and technology and Kennedy’s legacy rooted in entertainment and broadcasting.
Lowell McAdam and Tom Kennedy Quick Bio
| Detail | Lowell McAdam | Tom Kennedy |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Lowell Clayton McAdam | James Edward Narz |
| Date of Birth | May 28, 1954 | February 26, 1927 |
| Net Worth | Estimated; exact current figure is not publicly established | Estimated; exact figure is not publicly established |
| Age | 72 years old in 2026 | 93 years old at the time of his death in 2020 |
| Date of Death | Alive | October 7, 2020 |
| Birth Place | Buffalo, New York, United States | Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Profession | Business Executive, Engineer, Former CEO and Chairman | Television Host, Game-Show Host, Actor |
| Famous For | Former Chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications | Hosting You Don’t Say!, Name That Tune, Split Second, Password Plus and other game shows |
| Career | Telecommunications and executive leadership | Television, radio and entertainment |
| Education | Cornell University; University of San Diego | University of Missouri; University of Kentucky |
| Degrees | Bachelor’s degree in Engineering; MBA | Higher education at the University of Missouri and University of Kentucky |
| Military Service | Six years in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps | No documented military career |
| Height | Unverified; commonly estimated around 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | 6 ft (1.83 m) |
| Weight | Estimated/Unverified: around 78 kg (172 lb) | Unverified |
| Hair Color | Gray/white in later-life photographs | Unverified; appeared gray/white in later life |
| Eye Color | Unverified | Unverified |
| Nickname | Unverified | Tom Kennedy was his professional/stage name |
| Birth Name | Lowell Clayton McAdam | James Edward Narz |
| Parents | Not reliably documented in major public biographies | John Lawrence Narz Sr.; mother’s details are less consistently documented |
| Siblings | Unverified | Jack Narz; Mary Narz |
| Marital Status | Private/limited public information | Married |
| Spouse | Unverified in major public biographies | Betty Jane Gevedon |
| Marriage | Private family information | Married Betty Jane Gevedon in 1948 |
| Children | Has children; detailed information is limited publicly | Four children |
| Family | Private; limited publicly documented family information | Wife Betty Jane Gevedon, four children, brother Jack Narz and sister Mary Narz |
| No clearly verified official account | No verified official account; died in 2020 | |
| Hobbies | Specific hobbies are not reliably documented | Specific hobbies are not reliably documented |
| Early Career | Pacific Bell, followed by AirTouch Communications and PrimeCo | Radio before moving into television and game-show hosting |
| Verizon Career | Joined Verizon Wireless in 2000; later became CEO of Verizon Communications | Not applicable |
| Verizon CEO | Became CEO of Verizon Communications on August 1, 2011 | Not applicable |
| Verizon Chairman | Became chairman on January 1, 2012 | Not applicable |
| Retirement | Retired as Verizon CEO on August 1, 2018; later concluded his chairman role | Retired from regular television hosting around 1989 |
| Major Television Shows | Not applicable | You Don’t Say!, Split Second, Name That Tune, Password Plus, Whew!, Body Language, The Price Is Right and Wordplay |
| Acting Work | Not applicable | Appeared in That Girl, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Laugh-In, Cannon, Hardcastle and McCormick and Witness |
| Industry | Telecommunications and technology | Television and entertainment |
| Professional Legacy | A major figure in the development and expansion of the U.S. wireless telecommunications industry | A recognizable host of classic American game shows across several decades |
| Known For Leadership | Verizon Communications and Verizon Wireless | Classic American game-show television |
| Current Status | Living | Deceased in 2020 |
| Legacy | Long executive career spanning Pacific Bell, AirTouch, PrimeCo, Verizon Wireless and Verizon Communications | Nearly three decades of television hosting and a lasting connection with classic game shows |
Lowell McAdam and Tom Kennedy Images
