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Biography of
Charles C Keller
Charles C. Keller was born in Goshen, Indiana, United States on 17 June 1923.
Keller graduated from California State Teachers College (CSTC) with highest honors in a B.S. Ed. degree in English
and social science, and received the Distinguish Service Award for his involvement in an array of clubs and activities
on campus.
Returning to Washington County after law school, Keller served on CSTC’s Alumni Association Board and, with his wife
Mary Lou ‘46, co-chaired California’s first Homecoming Day.
He was a graduate of the California State University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
In the legal profession, he served as
* President of the Pittsburgh Bar Association and as a member of its
Board of Governors.
*
Phi Delta Phi. Fellow: American Bar Foundation;
*
American College of Trial Lawyers, Member: Washington County (President, 1965), Pennsylvania (President, 1982-1983;
*
Member, Board of Governors, 1973-1976, 1981-1984) and American (Member, House of Delegates, 1981-1984) Bar
Associations;
*
Pennsylvania Bar Institute (Member, Board of Directors, 1967-1973); American Judicature Society;
*
American Health Lawyers Association;
*
Academy of Trial Lawyers of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Charles Keller was a partner in a corporate law firm in
Washington, Pennsylvania, USA.
In the community he has been a director of several agencies, including the Boy Scouts, United Way, Chamber
of Commerce, and health agencies. He was also a member of the Governor’s Commission on the Financing of Higher
Education. Charles served in the United States Air Force Reserve, retiring in 1972 as a Judge Advocate with the
rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He departed his military career with - Lt. Col., JAG, USAFR, 1955-1972.
For more than 50 years he has been legal counsel to the Student Association Inc. (SAI). He is currently
a director of the Foundation for California University and chaired its successful $13 million capital campaign
fund in 1998.
Throughout the years, Keller has received many university awards, including -
* the Alumni Association’s Californian Award,
* the Jackman Award of Distinction, and
*
the Job Johnson Award.
He organized and chaired the Association of State Colleges and Universities (ASCO), a consortium of the
state organizations of alumni, faculty, students, trustees and presidents, which resulted in the separation of
those institutions from the Department of Education by Act 14 in 1961.
This in turn led to the creation of the State System of Higher Education (SSHE).
On Saturday 8 May 2004 at Hamer Hall, California University’s graduate and undergraduate classes of 2004 were
treated to inspiring and encouraging words from President Angelo Armenti, Jr. and distinguished alumnus Charles
C. Keller (’47) who was the keynote speaker at the 158th commencement ceremonies where he received the Doctor
of Humane Letters, honoris causa, when President Armenti conferred the degree.
“I’m delighted to be here with you this morning,” Keller said to the platform party, graduates, family and friends
beginning his commencement address. Accepting the honorary degree presented to him, he said, “It’s always sweeter
when the recognition comes from your friends.”
Keller said, as many didn’t know, that he gave the commencement address at California State College in 1983,
that being the last graduating class of CSC before the school became California University of Pennsylvania. “In those
twenty-one years,” Keller said, “.
Keller was a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of California, Pennsylvania, USA since joining in
1950.
He served Rotary International as District Governor, Committee Chairman, Director, twice as Chairman of the Council
on Legislation, and President in 1987-88. A Trustee of the Rotary Foundation from 1988-94, he served as its
Chairman in 1992-93 and as Chairman of the Rotary International Centennial
History Committee.
His vision for Rotary was that the world would see Rotarians - "United in Service - Dedicated to Peace".
One of Keller's more famous quotations -
"The challenge of world peace...is the most pressing imperative of our time…..In a world which possesses
the means of self-destruction, if we do not find the path of peace, whatever else we do won't make much difference."
-Address to 1987 Rotary Convention, Munich, Germany
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