Leo J. Keena
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Leo J. Keena | |
|---|---|
 Keena cropped from 1897 University of Michigan team photograph | |
| 2nd United States Minister to South Africa | |
| In office October 22, 1937 – August 13, 1942 | |
| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Ralph J. Totten |
| Succeeded by | Lincoln MacVeagh |
| United States Minister to Honduras | |
| In office July 19, 1935 – May 1, 1937 | |
| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Julius Gareché Lay |
| Succeeded by | John Draper Erwin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leo Japathet Keena April 12, 1878 Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Died | December 13, 1967 (aged 89) Knysna, Cape Province, South Africa |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Known for | Diplomat |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1898 |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War |
Leo John Keena[a] (April 12, 1878 – December 13, 1967) was an American football player and diplomat.
Early years
[edit]Keena was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1878, the son of James T. Keena and Henrietta (Boyle) Keena. His father was a lawyer who later became the president of the Peoples State Bank of Detroit.[2]
University of Michigan
[edit]Keena played college football as a fullback and kicker for the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1899.[3] He served in the United States Navy as a seaman on the auxiliary cruiser USS Yosemite during the Spanish–American War.[4]
Diplomatic career
[edit]After receiving his degree, Keena became a diplomat for the United States in 1909.[5] He was married in August 1906 to Eleanor Clarke. Keena's early diplomatic posts include service as U.S. Consul in Chihuahua, Mexico (1909–10), U.S. Counsel to Florence, Italy (1910–14),[6] U.S. Consul General in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1914–15),[7][8] U.S. Consul General in Valparaíso, Chile (1915–19), U.S. Consul General in Zürich, Switzerland (1919–20),[9][10] U.S. Consul General in Warsaw, Poland (1920–22),[11] U.S. Consul in Liverpool, England (1924–26), U.S. Counsul General in Havana, Cuba (1927–29), and U.S. Counsul General in Paris (1929–32).[12][13] He was appointed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served as the United States Ambassador to Honduras from February 1935 to May 1937 and as United States Ambassador to South Africa from July 1937 to August 1942.[14]
Later life and death
[edit]After his assignment to South Africa, Keena retired from the Foreign Service in 1943. He died in Knysna in December 1967.[15]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Michiganensian. [1900]. 2005.
- ^ 33 Banking L. J. 795 (1916).
- ^ "Forced Keena to Punt: U. of M. Scrubs Kept the 'Varsity Eleven Busy Yesterday". Detroit Free Press. October 14, 1899. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
- ^ "Michigan in the War". The Michigan Alumnus. December 1898. p. 89.
- ^ "APPOINTED TO PARIS AS CONSUL GENERAL; Leo J. Keena of Detroit Is Transferred to French Capital From Havana.NEAR EASTERN CHIEF NAMEDWallace S. Murray Gets Shaw's Post--Other Changes Announced byState Department". The New York Times. November 3, 1929. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ^ "Detroiter Becomes a Consul in Italy". Detroit Free Press. December 13, 1910. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
- ^ "Buenos Aires Regrets Departure of Keena: Business Houses Protest Transfer of U. S. Consul-General and Commerce Board Gives Him Dinner". Detroit Free Press. May 4, 1915. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
- ^ "President Announces Consular Nominations". Meriden Morning Record. April 10, 1914.
- ^ "Bomb Is Exploded Under U.S. Consulate". The Atlanta Constitution. March 5, 1920. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
- ^ "American Consulate at Zurich Bombed". Christian Science Monitor. March 5, 1920. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
- ^ "Death Trails Pole Refugees: American Consul General at Warsaw Bares Horrors of Exodus From Russia". Detroit Free Press. August 11, 1922. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
- ^ "Appointed to Paris as Counsel General: Leo J. Keena of Detroit Is Transferred to French Capital From Havana". The New York Times. November 3, 1929.
- ^ "Keena Is Elevated to Consul General". Detroit Free Press. December 30, 1934. p. 13.
- ^ "Index to Politicians: Keat to Keena". The Political Graveyard.
- ^ "Deaths". The Foreign Service Journal. Vol. 45, no. 2. February 1968. p. 2.
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