Thursday, July 29, 2004

Joey Keeling must have touched a lot of lives during his short time with us.

Friends of the late 22-year-old Bardstown native, who died of heart failure Jan. 16, have been raising funds for a scholarship in his name.

Keeling helped found the Western Kentucky University Ducks Unlimited Chapter a few years ago.

Ducks Unlimited, formed in 1937, is a national organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the nations wetlands to benefit North Americas waterfowl. Since its founding, it has raised more than $1.6 billion for this effort.

Keeling really believed in the organization, and his hard work and determination were instrumental in bringing this chapter to the university.

His friends are trying to raise $10,000 for a scholarship in his name. They have so far raised $4,000 for this noble cause.

The group has been holding fund-raisers recently and are planning one this weekend.

The chapter members hope that eventually they could raise another $10,000 to sustain the scholarship at a $1,000 level, instead of a $500 level.

These boys have put their hearts and souls into this scholarship fund, said Joeys mother, Marty Keeling. Its wonderful that theyre doing it for him, and I want the world to know about the kinds of friends he made at Western.

Joey Keelings friends are truly amazing people.

Their dedication to keeping their friends memory alive says a lot about the kind of person Joey Keeling was.

One friend, Brian Fischer, said Joey Keeling helped him settle in his first year at Western and made him feel at home in the Ducks Unlimited chapter.

Marty Keeling said her son dedicated himself to the chapter.

Joey Keeling will truly be missed He would certainly be proud of his friends gallant efforts to keep his legacy alive.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700