Leo J. Keena Explained

Order1:2nd
Minister From1:United States
Country1:South Africa
Term Start1:October 22, 1937
Term End1:August 13, 1942
Minister From2:United States
Country2:Honduras
Term Start2:July 19, 1935
Term End2:May 1, 1937
President2:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Leo J. Keena
Birth Name:Leo Japathet Keena
Birth Date:12 April 1878
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, United States
Death Place:Knysna, Cape Province, South Africa
Citizenship:United States
Known For:Diplomat
Alma Mater:University of Michigan
Serviceyears:1898
Awards:is not set -->

Leo John Keena (April 12, 1878  - December 13, 1967) was an American football player and diplomat.

Early years

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.[1]

University of Michigan

Keena played college football as a fullback and kicker for the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1899.[2] He served in the United States Navy as a seaman on the auxiliary cruiser during the Spanish–American War.[3]

Diplomatic career

After receiving his degree, Keena became a diplomat for the United States in 1909.[4] 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),[5] U.S. Consul General in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1914 - 15),[6] [7] U.S. Consul General in Valparaíso, Chile (1915 - 19), U.S. Consul General in Zürich, Switzerland (1919 - 20),[8] [9] U.S. Consul General in Warsaw, Poland (1920 - 22),[10] 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).[11] [12] 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.[13]

Later life and death

After his assignment to South Africa, Keena retired from the Foreign Service in 1943. He died in Knysna in December 1967.[14]

Notes and References

  1. http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/blj33&div=90&id=&page= 33 Banking L. J. 795
  2. News: Forced Keena to Punt: U. of M. Scrubs Kept the 'Varsity Eleven Busy Yesterday. Detroit Free Press. October 14, 1899. https://archive.today/20130131191220/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1723933502.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+14,+1899&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=FORCED+KEENA+TO+PUNT&pqatl=google. dead. January 31, 2013.
  3. News: Michigan in the War. The Michigan Alumnus. December 1898. 89.
  4. News: 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. . 1929-11-03 . The New York Times . 2019-11-29 . en-US . 0362-4331.
  5. News: Detroiter Becomes a Consul in Italy. Detroit Free Press. December 13, 1910. https://archive.today/20130201193448/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1749810062.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+13,+1910&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=DETROITER+BECOMES+A+CONSUL+IN+ITALY&pqatl=google. dead. February 1, 2013.
  6. News: 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. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104125819/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1768142932.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=May+04,+1915&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=BUENOS+AIRES+REGRETS+DEPARTURE+OF+KEENA&pqatl=google. dead. November 4, 2012.
  7. News: President Announces Consular Nominations. Meriden Morning Record. April 10, 1914.
  8. News: Bomb Is Exploded Under U.S. Consulate. The Atlanta Constitution. March 5, 1920 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104125827/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ajc_historic/access/513778832.html?dids=513778832:513778832&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Mar+05,+1920&author=&pub=The+Atlanta+Constitution&desc=BOMB+IS+EXPLODED+UNDER+U.+S.+CONSULATE&pqatl=google. dead. November 4, 2012.
  9. News: American Consulate at Zurich Bombed. Christian Science Monitor. March 5, 1920. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104125838/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/298750042.html?dids=298750042:298750042&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Mar+05,+1920&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=AMERICAN+CONSULATE+AT+ZURICH+BOMBED&pqatl=google. dead. November 4, 2012.
  10. News: Death Trails Pole Refugees: American Consul General at Warsaw Bares Horrors of Exodus From Russia. Detroit Free Press. August 11, 1922 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104125848/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1784897252.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Aug+11,+1922&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=DEATH+TRAILS+POLE+REFUGEES&pqatl=google. dead. November 4, 2012.
  11. News: 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.
  12. News: Keena Is Elevated to Consul General. Detroit Free Press. December 30, 1934. 13.
  13. Web site: Index to Politicians: Keat to Keena. The Political Graveyard.
  14. February 1968 . Deaths . The Foreign Service Journal . 45 . 2 . 2.

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