Jack Harvey Keenan (June 8, 1919 – February 8, 1977) was an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

guard Guard or guards may refer to: Professional occupations * Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault * Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street * Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning * Prison ...

who played collegiately for University of South Carolina and in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

(NFL) for the

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...

. His professional football career was put on hold by the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. After the war, Keenan resumed his career briefly with the

Hawaiian Warriors Hawaiian may refer to: * Native Hawaiians, the current term for the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants * Hawaii state residents, regardless of ancestry (only used outside of Hawaii) * Hawaiian language Historic uses * ...

of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League.

Biography

Jack Keenan was born June 8, 1919, in Greensboro, North Carolina. He attended R. J. Reynolds High School where he excelled in football."Jack Harvey Keenan (obituary),"
''Winston-Salem Journal,'' Feb. 9, 1977, p. 19. After graduation he attended the University of South Carolina, playing as a lineman on the

South Carolina Gamecocks football team The South Carolina Gamecocks football program represents the University of South Carolina. The Gamecocks compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern ...

. Keenan played for the

of the

(NFL) during the

1944 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in Nor ...

and

1945 NFL season The 1945 NFL season was the 26th regular season of the National Football League. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Cardinals resumed their traditional operations. The remains of the final Ohio League member Dayton Triangles, then known a ...

s, seeing action in 13 games. Keenan served as a lieutenant in the

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

during

.''The Don: Los Angeles Dons — Brooklyn Dodgers, September 13, 1946: Official Program.'' Los Angeles, CA: Los Angeles Dons, 1946; p. 15. After the end of the war he attempted to renew his professional football career as a member of the

Los Angeles Dons The Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the newly formed football league the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from 1946 to 1949, and played their home games in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Dons were the first profes ...

of the

All-America Football Conference The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the ...

, but he was released from the team shortly before the start of the season. After his release from the Dons, Keenan signed on with the

of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League (PCPFL), for whom he played in 1946 and 1947."Jack Keenan Will Join Pro Football Team in Honolulu,"
''Winston-Salem Journal,'' Aug. 30, 1947, p. 1. The Warriors were the semi-professional farm team of the Dons and were coached by Keith Molesworth, later head coach of the

Baltimore Colts The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from its founding in 1953 to 1984. The team now plays in Indianapolis, as the Indianapolis Colts. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breed ...

. While with the Warriors Keenan played center and served as an assistant line coach. During summers ahead of the season, Keenan stayed in shape by working as a life guard at

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as "The Grand Strand" in the northeastern part of the state. Its y ...

. After his playing career ended he returned home to

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

where he was a football coach and assistant to the athletic director at Alexander Graham Junior High School in

Charlotte Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont (United States), Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Meckl ...

. He also played semi-professional football for the Charlotte Clippers in 1949.Jack of All Trades (photo),"
''Charlotte News,'' Sept. 15, 1949, p. 16. He later worked for a number years in a wrecking yard. Keenan was pronounced dead on arrival after transport to General Hospital at

Rocky Mount, North Carolina Rocky Mount is a city in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, Edgecombe and Nash County, North Carolina, Nash counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The city's population was 54,341 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it ...

, on February 8, 1977. He was 57 years old at the time of his death.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keenan, Jack 1919 births 1977 deaths American football offensive linemen South Carolina Gamecocks football players Washington Redskins players Players of American football from Greensboro, North Carolina