2022FallWarriorWEB

KEENAN

the BSU Council. She was also a mem- ber of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and served as secretary of the Student Body Association. Keenan was selected a freshman class favorite, sophomore homecoming maid, and Miss ECJC. She was one of four students selected for the ECJC Hall of Fame during her sophomore year. After graduating from East Central, Keenan attended Mississippi College and played basketball for one year. She was admitted to an honors course of study and also scheduled for a semes- ter of student teaching her senior year so she opted not to play to focus on academics. She was the first physical education major at MC to be inducted into the Cap and Gown Honor Society, which was a prestigious organization limited to 12 senior women who were out- standing in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and service. After receiving her degree from Mis- sissippi College, she taught physical education and coached basketball for three years. She then served one year as a graduate assistant for women’s basketball at Southeastern Louisiana University where she completed her Master’s Degree in Education. The following year she was em- ployed by the West Jasper School Dis- trict in Bay Springs as the high school counselor and district test coordinator. She served in that capacity until her retirement in 1997. She also completed an Education Specialist degree at Mis- sissippi State University. Since retirement, Keenan stays ac- tive with walking, yard work, reading, helping others, and participating in her church. She and her husband, John, reside in Rose Hill. They have three children: Their daughter, Kate (Sean) Covich, is a former speech instructor at ECCC. Other family members include son, Lyle (Tina) Keenan, and daughter, Tina (Bruce) Bonner; five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. “To see the changes the college has made the past 55 years is absolutely spectacular,” Keenan said. “Not only the growth in physical facilities and diversity in the curriculum but also the increased population of students are beyond impressive. However, when alumni return, it is still home!”

groundwork years before Title IX and to have adapted to so many changes throughout her long career is astound- ing. … As her student and player, I highly respected her and knew she always truly cared about my well-being. Even after East Central, she was inter- ested in my educational and profes- sional careers.” Not only did women not have the same advantages of men on the bas- ketball court in those days, they also had different rules and expectations regarding campus life. Keenan said, “One of the most memorable things about East Central relating to sports is that we were not allowed to wear pants on campus. All female students had to wear a skirt or raincoat over their shorts when going to or coming from the gym for PE class, intramurals, or team sports. Need- less to say, the raincoat was the better choice, but definitely not comfortable after sweating down from physical activity. Neither could it have been too stylish with our Chuck Taylor converse high top tennis shoes!” Keenan said her parents always emphasized higher education and after her father died her sophomore year of high school, she said staying close to home for family and financial reasons was the logical choice and for her East Central was the perfect one. “It was a wonderful environment that nurtured me through that transi- tion from high school. The instruc- tors were outstanding and challenged me academically. It was obvious they enjoyed their jobs and their students. They took time to work with us indi- vidually if needed and knew so many of us on a first-name basis in and out of the classroom. “ ... East Central was like an ex- tended family and was a huge factor in molding me into the person I am today. I learned so many life lessons and matured socially, emotionally, and spiritually.” In addition to basketball, Keenan was a member of the volleyball and tennis teams, also coached by Wood. She participated in intramural sports which included events ranging from team sports, badminton, shuffleboard, and track and field. She was a team captain and served as president of the women’s intramural program. She was an active member of the Baptist Student Union and served on

– Continued from page 21

teams. Against Mississippi College on their home court, Keenan scored 54 points, which is a record that still stands today as the most points scored in a single game by an East Central women’s player. Tommy Joe Jennings of Louisville, an East Central friend and classmate of Keenan, said of her, “I remember watching Sandy play and the first thing that comes to mind is that she was a pure shooter. She had an eye for the basket and was a scorer. She would play a game of Horse with some of us guys and she would beat us every time! In addition to being a terrific offensive scorer, she was a team player too and would give the ball up and pass it if she saw someone else in a position to score. If anyone deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, it’s Sandy Keenan. She was an outstanding player who could have played anywhere, but I’m glad she chose East Central!” Keenan served as a team captain and was also the recipient of the Earline Wood Women’s Basketball Award. She said playing in the pre-Title IX era was all they knew and she could not have envisioned the tidal wave of change that would occur just a short time later when legislation passed in 1972. “From basically starting at zero to where female sports are today is totally unbelievable. To have team attire, proper equipment, personal trainers, weight rooms, practice facilities, play- ing arenas, scholarships, champion- ships, professional teams, television exposure, and an almost endless list of other benefits would have been a fairy tale for my generation. Opportunities are unlimited, and not just playing, but legendary Coach Lucille Wood, Keenan said, “Miss Wood was certainly one not to mince her words. There was never a question of where she stood, her expectations, or your assignment. She had her unique way of motivating you to do your best on the court, in the classroom, and in life. She expected us to conduct ourselves in a respectable manner and bring honor to ourselves and East Central. “She was definitely a visionary for women’s athletics. To have laid the career choices as well,” she said. When asked about playing for

ALUMNI NEWS

23