Gene Keith Memorial

Memorial fund supplies basketball shoes to students in need
Posted on 12/15/2020
Gene Keith

Two student-athletes were recently provided free Nike sneakers through a memorial fund designated for Mules Basketball program participants in need at Poplar Bluff High School.

The Gene Keith Memorial Basketball Shoe Fund has been quietly supplying sneakers to Girls and Boys Basketball players since its establishment in 2016.

“It’s definitely helped us—just to have somebody we can ask and depend on—to have those funds available,” said Boys Basketball Coach Will Durden, noting that oftentimes assistance comes out of pocket. “It takes the load off the coaching staff, and it’s just nice to have that support. It’s been good.”

Named in honor of R-I Athletic Director Kent Keith’s late father, the charity operates under the Poplar Bluff School Foundation. In addition to receiving contributions from supporters in the community, the fund allows the Keith family to make annual donations in Gene's memory.

“The thought process was doing something for the kids, and we talked about football, but basketball helped pay for his [Gene’s] college education,” Kent explained. “The other thing behind it was mom [Josephine] wanted to keep Poplar Bluff money here and give back to the school because they offered me the opportunity to come here to work.”

Kent previously served as assistant football coach at Nicholls State University in Louisiana, but was looking to locate closer to his parent’s home in Arkansas when his father’s health unfortunately began to decline. In particular, Kent was looking for job openings in Missouri since he obtained a teaching certification from Southwest Baptist University, where he played football as an undergraduate.

Gene received his higher education at Frank Phillips College in his hometown in Texas and then transferred to West Texas State University, on respective basketball scholarships, before serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and later leading a career in law enforcement.

The school year the memorial was established under past superintendent Chris Hon, Kent had spent $700 out of his fundraising account on basketball sneakers for student-athletes who did not have the means to buy the athletic gear. The district has another nonprofit, known as Sole Providers, that supplies school shoes for students without, but the basketball sneakers are specially designed to grip the hardwood court.

When students cannot afford a pair, they can discretely notify the coaching staff. To make a donation to the ‘Gene Keith Memorial Basketball Shoe Fund,’ checks may be sent to the Poplar Bluff Public School Foundation at 1110 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901. For more information, call 573-785-7751.

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Cutline: A fund that provides sneakers to Boys and Girls Basketball players in need has been established in honor of R-I Athletic Director Kent Keith’s father Gene, pictured at West Texas State University.

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