ESU remembers Ron Keith

Ron Keith and a student having some fun during a Thanksgiving feast in 2006. (Photo courtesy of Amy Sage Webb.)

“You’d see him everywhere,” remarked Amy Sage Webb of her colleague, Ron Keith. “Sporting events, alumni events, concerts, community events. He loved finding out what people did.”

Webb, Associate Professor of English at Emporia State University, reflected on the friendship she and others in the ESU and Emporia communities enjoyed with Keith, an Associate Professor of Physics at Emporia State, who died Aug. 24 at age 55.

Webb remembered Keith’s message to ESU faculty in his role as Faculty Senate president. “He told us to be good to each other, to find out, care about and value what our colleagues do, even if it’s not something we do.”

One of the first orders of business at a recent ESU Faculty Senate meeting was to pass a resolution commending Keith for his service and leadership to the faculty of Emporia State. The resolution specifically notes Keith’s representation at meetings of the Kansas Board of Regents, and regular attendance at events within and outside the university.

Keith was in charge of ESU’s Peterson Planetarium, and Webb recalled numerous star-viewing events that he organized. He also forged strong ties with Emporia State’s exchange students from China. Webb said Keith traveled to China twice to meet with the students. “They used to call him ‘Big Uncle,’” she said, noting that some of the students were at Keith’s bedside regularly, until the day before he died.

Away from the classroom, Keith’s prowess in the kitchen was well-known. “Ron was a gourmet cook, and he’d have his parties at Melanie and Chuck Pheatt’s house, because their kitchen was amazing,” said Webb. That love of culinary skills led Keith and other Emporia State colleagues to publish a cookbook a few years ago.

As Keith’s health began to decline this summer, an outpouring of campus and community support fell on the shoulders of Webb and other colleagues, including Dr. Marvin Harrell, Associate Professor of Mathematics, and Dr. Dwight Moore, Associate Professor of Biology, to manage. “So many people cared about him that it was almost a balancing act of making sure that everyone who wanted to do something for Ron had that chance,” Webb remarked. “It was just something we did as friends.”

The Ronald Loren Keith scholarship has been created in Keith’s memory to benefit students studying physics education at Emporia State. Donations may be made through the ESU Foundation.

Last Updated September 21, 2007>