Dr. Richard O. Keelor

DR. RICHARD OLIVER KEELOR (Age 87)

ONE OF AMERICA’S LEADING HEALTH AND FITNESS AUTHORITIES

Richard Keelor, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed peacefully surrounded by the love of his family at his home in Gainesville, Virginia, on Monday, July 22, 2024, at the age of 87.

Richard is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn Keelor, his children, Kelly (Keelor) Mowe (and the late Blake Mowe), of Lawrenceville, Georgia; Richard and his wife Rose Keelor, of Round Hill, Virginia; and Ryan and his wife Josette Keelor, of Berryville, Virginia. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Caroline, Annmarie, and Katelynn Mowe; and Sarah, Grace, and Olivia Keelor and great-grandchild Noah Tobias Mowe, along with many other family members and dear friends.

Richard was born on February 20, 1937, in Taft, California, the son of the late Oliver H. Keelor and Rachel A. Gifford Keelor of Redondo Beach, California.

Richard graduated from his beloved Redondo Union High School (RUHS) in 1955. In 2005, he was inducted as one of the 100 most distinguished alumni at the RUHS 100th Anniversary Centennial Celebration. He attended El Camino College before heading to California State University at Long Beach where he earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He was Athlete of the Year in 1959 and captain of the football team. Additionally, he won the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate wrestling championship. He received his Ph.D. in Physical Education, with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

After a successful college football and wrestling career at Long Beach State University, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams in 1961 as a 240-pound offensive guard. He also played for the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers.

He was recruited to be the line coach at Long Beach Poly High School where he produced some world class talent like Earl “the Perl” McCullough, Gene Washington and others. He then went on to coach football and wrestling and later become the Athletic Director of Beverly Hills High School. In 2010 he was the first to be honored with the Beverly Hills High School Athletic Alumni’s Polaris Award for his lasting contribution to the school’s championship athletic program. He loved his “Beverly Boys” and was still in contact with many of them until his death. He had a distinguished ten-year career as a public-school physical educator, was voted High School Football Coach of the Year by the Los Angeles Times, and was honored as California Athletic Director of the Year.

Richard served at all levels of the health promotion and physical fitness profession. In 1972, he was personally selected by Astronaut James Lovell of Apollo 13 fame, to serve as Director of Program Development for the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS). He served this presidential agency over a ten-year period under four administrations.

He received numerous awards that reflected his passion and commitment to “Shape Up America”. In 2008, he was awarded the PCPFS Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The award honors his 50 years in creating change in health promotion and physical fitness and improving lives around the world. Richard was admired for his dedication and focus on health advocacy and leadership training. He was awarded the U.S. Jaycees Healthy American Fitness Award in 1984, the highly coveted Winston Churchill Award of the United Kingdom for exceptional leadership in the health and fitness field, and the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from the International Association of Worksite Health Promotion. The National Association of Governor’s Councils on Physical Fitness and Sports honored Richard as the first recipient of the Glenn V. Swengros Memorial Award in honor of his ongoing national leadership in promotion of health and physical activity. He was not just an extraordinary director of the President’s Council on Fitness and Sports; he was a beacon of inspiration, a guiding light in the pursuit of health and excellence. His unwavering commitment to promoting fitness and wellness has left an indelible mark on our nation, shaping the lives of many, from young athletes to seasoned professionals.

Following his government service, Richard joined the Campbell Soup Co. as president of its National Institute for Health/Fitness and general manager of a new Campbell’s business unit. He led the development and implementation of the Campbell’s employee health/fitness program, which now has had more than 40 years of success, and he shaped up the Campbell Soup kids too.

Richard has conducted more than 200 regional and national fitness and health promotion clinics, including four White House Sport Medicine Conferences. He has appeared on the “Today” show and “Good Morning America,” among numerous other media appearances. Richard has served as a consultant to the governments of Japan, Germany, Norway, Portugal and Guatemala, and has lectured at various institutional symposiums and universities throughout Europe and Scandinavia.

He was CEO of Health Designs International, a company specializing in developing and implementing science-based health and fitness educational systems, and equipment for schools, business, industry, and government agencies and building healthy communities and organizations.

Richard had a long interest in geriatric physiology and played a lead role in amendments to the federal Older Americans Act, which provides for increased opportunities for the elderly to attain and maintain appropriate physical activity. Richard addressed organizations such as the World Health Organization’s Tenth Annual Conference for the Prevention of Chronic Disease to continue pushing health and fitness. As co-founder of Be Active America, he served as one of the lead faculty in advocacy training workshops provided to educators, recreational professionals, and to business, industry and government officials. These workshops assist professional groups and individuals to better communicate with media and state, local and federally elected officials in order to advance the nation’s Healthy People 2020 goals. He was also the primary consultant in development of Be Active North Carolina, the first statewide initiative to promote grassroots physical activity advocacy.

Richard was recruited by the U.S. Sugar Association to serve as its CEO in an effort to assist the industry and its food and beverage partners to better communicate the role of sucrose in a healthy diet and to advance the fact that sugar in moderation is entirely consistent with healthy living.

Beyond his professional achievements, Richard left a tremendous impact. He possessed a rare gift for making everyone he encountered feel valued and seen. Richard was always for the underdog. His passion for helping others was evident in every aspect of his life. Whether he was encouraging a young athlete to push beyond their limits, providing sage advice to a colleague or helping a stranger, Richard offered his heart and had a way of making a genuine connection. Richard’s wisdom and compassion were a source of strength for many.

Richard loved spending time with his family. He loved running with Kelly, and rock climbing and camping with Richard and Ryan. He loved his special outings with his granddaughters. The annual Family Christmas Dinner at The Beautiful South (Hamilton Station Gastropub) restaurant with the whole family was especially special to Richard. He was a loving father, who had an unwavering belief in his children. He instilled in his children his love for personal wellness and the importance of being active and living life to the fullest. His greatest love was his children and his grandchildren.

Richard found his soulmate in Carolyn Keelor, and they married in 2000. Theirs was a love story built on unconditional love and support. Together, they built a life filled with the love of the Lord, laughter, and shared adventures.

Richard’s interest in personal well-being led him to incorporate meditation as a fundamental health skill to empower groups and individuals to achieve emotional balance and spiritual awareness. He has written a book of his own mediations called “Holy Moments”. An accomplished player of the Native American wood flute, he also has produced a CD of music and guided meditations.

His legacy lives on in the hearts of those he touched and inspired. They will remember the values he stood for and how he taught integrity, character, courage, sacrifice, self-discipline, kindness, a dedication to causes greater than one’s self, and the relentless pursuit of a healthier, happier life for all.

Richard continues to make a difference in death as he did in life. He has donated his brain for research to the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center. The purpose of this research is to help understand the long-term effects of head trauma and brain injuries and to help protect future generations of athletes, military veterans and others exposed to head trauma.

Let us honor his memory by continuing his mission, by striving to make a positive impact in our own lives and the lives of others.

In the words of the great philosopher, Thomas Campbell, “To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.” Richard’s spirit will continue to inspire us, to guide us, and to remind us of the profound difference one person can make in the world.

Friends are invited to celebrate his life on Sunday, August 11, 2024, 2 p.m. at Unity of Fairfax, 2854 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, Va 22124 and live streamed at UnityofFairax.org/live. Followed by a reception at the Vienna Moose Lodge, 9616 Courthouse Rd. Vienna, Va 22181. Contributions may be made in his honor at his high school alma mater Redondo Union High School- Link: https://redondounionasb.myschoolcentral.com/ https://redondounionasb.myschoolcentral.com and selecting the category “Football.” Make a donation to the “Richard Keelor Memorial Donation”.