Donald R. Keith


General Donald Raymond Keith was a United States Army general.

Early life and education

Keith was born in Ludington, Michigan. During World War II, he served in the United States Army as an enlisted soldier. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1949 and was commissioned a field artillery second lieutenant. He received his bachelor's degree from the academy and a master's degree from Columbia University in 1958, preceding a faculty assignment at West Point. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Akron in 1982.

Military career

Some of Keith's key duty assignments in his active military service were:
Keith attended the Ground General School, Field Artillery School, Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and numerous foreign awards and service ribbons. He retired from military service on 28 June 1984.

Later life

In retirement Keith served as Chairman of the United States Field Artillery Association, from 2002 until shortly before his death, and was succeeded by Jack N. Merritt. He died 9 September 2004. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.