![\"Keeton.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/ezing.me\/transfer\/wp-content\/uploads\/stories\/Keeton.jpg\" "\\"Keeton.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\nOXFORD, Miss. – John T. Keeton Jr. of Grenada remembers the day he went to the late Dean Robert Farley at the University of Mississippi School of Law and asked to be admitted.
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\nCertainly not a traditional law school student in \n “Dean Farley kindly accepted me when he could have \n Generations of students are certain to share the \n “John and Margaret Keeton have been building a \n The gift is part of the university’s MomentUM \n Plans for the land include some acreage being held \n “John and Margaret Keeton are great Ole Miss people \n The Keetons have divided their gifts between \n“We appreciate what the university is doing: providing a \nMargaret Keeton agreed, saying that “Ole Miss is a good \n“A gift to athletics earlier this year from the Keetons has \n John Keeton began his undergraduate degree in 1941, \n His dream to attend law school, however, faded when \n At 29, John Keeton became the youngest Grenada \n The attorney’s decades of service on the boards of
\n1952, Keeton arrived on campus with a wife and three young
\nchildren in tow.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nchosen a younger student in my place,” said Keeton,
\nan attorney and former state senator, who also has
\nbeen instrumental in the regional health care
\nfield. “I have felt indebted to him and the
\nuniversity for letting me fulfill my dream of
\nearning a law degree.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nsame sentiments about Keeton and his wife,
\nMargaret. Their three previous gifts to academics
\nand athletics total some $1.5 million, and they
\nhave announced a gift of 1,324 acres of timberland
\nlocated primarily in Grenada County. Half of the
\ngift is to benefit Ole Miss, with the remainder
\ndesignated for other local charitable
\norganizations.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nremarkable legacy over many years, contributing
\ntime and resources to their immediate community, as
\nwell as to the larger community that encompasses
\nthe state and beyond,” said Chancellor Robert
\nKhayat. “The Keetons have invested in the life of
\nthe University of Mississippi and in the lives of
\nyoung people with their generous gifts, and we are
\nprofoundly grateful. This new gift of land
\ndemonstrates their unwavering commitment to
\nstrengthening this university and providing
\nopportunities for others.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\ncampaign, a four-year initiative to raise $200
\nmillion. The campaign, which ends in December 2008,
\nalready has raised more than $160 million for
\nscholarships, graduate fellowships, faculty
\nsupport, a basketball practice facility,
\nresidential colleges and a new law school on the
\nOxford campus. Also in the plan is a cancer center
\nat the UM Medical Center in Jackson.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nfor long-term investment purposes, as well as
\nacreage being sold as financially beneficial
\nopportunities arise, said UM Foundation President
\nand Chief Executive Officer Wendell Weakley.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nwith a keen understanding of the need for academic
\nand athletic financial support,” Weakley said.
\n“Their gift of timberland will benefit Ole Miss
\nstudents for generations to come. The highlight of
\nmy time thus far with the foundation has been
\ngetting to know our loyal alumni and friends, and
\nit has been truly enjoyable to work with the
\nKeetons.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nacademics and athletics, as well as supported an
\narray of special projects at the university. An
\nenthusiastic football fan, John Keeton said the
\ncouple considers needs all over campus.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nreasonably priced, high-quality education,” he said. “We
\nwant to do some good for the children of Mississippi, the
\nchildren of the world.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\ninvestment” for young people and for donors. The couple has
\nprovided gifts through charitable unitrusts, which provide
\nthe donors’ lifetime income from these assets. Such assets
\nare managed by, and will benefit, the university – the
\nimpact of which is felt throughout the university.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nhelped move forward our basketball practice facility. The
\nimpact of their most recent gift of land will have a
\ntremendous impact of both academics and athletics,” said
\nAthletics Director Pete Boone, who also grew up in Grenada.
\n“Mr. and Mrs. Keeton are great friends to Ole Miss and to
\nme, personally. The Keetons have been an integral part of
\nmy life since birth. They have always been generous to
\nworthwhile community endeavors.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nand was a roommate of Grenada native William
\nWinter, an attorney who went on to become governor
\nof Mississippi. Keeton’s college days were
\ninterrupted when he served in the U.S. Army Air
\nCorps during World War II. He returned to the
\nuniversity, completing his degree in 1947, the same
\nyear he sat on a bench in the Grove and proposed to
\nMargaret Green, a fellow student he had known since
\nchildhood. They married that year.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nhis father died and Keeton had to join his mother
\nin operating the family’s dry goods store in
\nGrenada. The family sold the store in 1952, and he
\nmade his way back to the university to earn a law
\ndegree. The Keetons settled in their hometown to
\nestablish a private law practice. After their three
\nchildren were grown, Margaret Keeton completed her
\nUM degree in social work.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nCounty Chamber of Commerce president ever elected,
\nand he and his wife have served in numerous
\nleadership roles and remain active members of First
\nBaptist Church of Grenada. John Keeton was elected
\nto the Mississippi Senate for three terms,
\nbeginning in 1983. He retired in 1990 from his law
\nfirm he founded, Keeton & Embry.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nboth the Memphis-based Baptist Memorial Health Care
\nCorp. and Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation
\nhave impacted regional health care services, and he
\nalso provided leadership on Baptist Memorial Health
\nCare Corp.’s individual hospital boards in Oxford
\nand Columbus. The Keetons’ philanthropic gifts also
\nsupport the work of the Baptist Memorial Health
\nCare Foundation.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n