June 30, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Leroy Keyes, Purdue's "All-Time Greatest Football Player," will join the John Purdue Club staff next month. Keyes, currently Purdue's administrative assistant for football, will move to the John Purdue Club as an assistant director. His responsibilities will focus on building relationships with former Boilermaker student-athletes.
"This is a natural step for Leroy," Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke said. "Over time, his career has progressed from a student-athlete himself, to a coach and now an administrator."
Keyes, 52, played football for the Boilermakers from 1966-68. The Newport News, Va., native was selected as Purdue's "All-Time Greatest Player" in 1987 and voted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
"I'm looking forward to the new challenge," Keyes said. "The John Purdue Club provides the foundation behind Purdue athletics. I look forward to making sure our former student-athletes are part of the team even after they have left campus."
Started in 1959, the John Purdue Club is the fund-raising arm of the athletic department. The Club's 7,500 members provide the scholarships and academic support costs for Purdue's 500 student-athletes. Last year Club members gave more than $5 million to cover Purdue's athletic scholarship needs.
"Leroy fills a need for us," said Greg Christopher, director of the John Purdue Club. "His addition will allow us to focus more attention on former student-athletes. Purdue has a strong tradition of former student-athletes supporting athletics, and this will allow us to build that tradition further."
In addition to his work with the John Purdue Club, Keyes will represent Purdue on occasion in other ways. Keyes will continue to be involved in football recruiting and appearances for the university on behalf of the alumni association and university relations.