Longtime Cal State Stanislaus Sports Information Director Will Keener received the prestigious Bob Kenworthy Good Person Award on June 28th at the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Workshop in St. Louis.

The award is given annually by the CoSIDA membership to a college sports information director for civic involvement and accomplishments outside the field of intercollegiate athletics.

Keener’s wife Blanche, his two daughters and Stanislaus Athletics Director Milt Richards were among his many supporters present in St. Louis to pay tribute. Keener thanked CoSIDA for honoring him as the eighth recipient of the award, and reflected on his contributions to the City of Turlock and surrounding communities for the past 30 years.

Keener joined the Cal State Stanislaus staff in 1970 with responsibilities for sports information and public affairs, and served as the campus photographer for many of those early years.

A dedicated employee to higher education, Keener’s seemingly endless public contributions laid a foundation for hope and opportunity in Turlock.

Keener’s motivation for community involvement came from a desire to give his two daughters the chance to participate in athletic and civic events at a time when no such opportunities existed. Keener’s commitment to the well-being of Turlock’s youth continued to flourish well after he succeeded in increasing opportunities for girls.

He served as a director and officer of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce and later as its president, twice served as president of a local Lions Club, served as a coach, organizer and officer of the Turlock Girls Softball Association, helped organize and served as the officer of the Stanislaus Warriors Booster Club (now the Arrowhead Club), served as chair of the Miss Rodeo California Committee, and helped establish the Turkey Tech Grand Prix before chairing the event committee.

Keener additionally served 13 years, two as chair, of the Turlock Parks and Recreation Commission and continues to chair an ad-hoc committee to develop a municipal golf course. He started and served 14 years as chair of the Turlock Junior Miss program, now in its 36th year. Keener was selected as Turlock’s Citizen of the Year in 1984 and was inducted into the California Junior Miss Hall of Fame. Keener is currently the chair of the Sportsmen of Stanislaus Club’s Outstanding Athletes Awards Committee and has served other athletic committees, including a Lions All-Star Football Game Committee.

Additionally, Keener is an active volunteer for the Stanislaus County Fair, where he assumes public information responsibilities, among other things.

The CCAA membership congratulates Will Keener for his well-deserved honor and wishes him continued success as a community leader.

(Information originally published in the July 2000 issue of CoSIDA Digest).