Sigma Pi - Cornell University

Page 3 SP Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity • Pledged and initiated in 1953. • Served one term respectively as house manager, recruitment chairman, and first counselor; served two terms as Sage. • Served 20 years as president of the Alumni Board. Accomplishments and Recognitions • As an undergraduate, Jim introduced the concept of expanding the dining room to better accommodate the membership at daily meals. • Served as vice chair and later chairman of the Heritage Drive to raise money to reno- vate and expand the chapter house. • Served as chairman of the three-man construction committee to accomplish the renovation and expansion of the chapter house. • Conceived and competed the McGraw Place Project, which allowed for significant expansion of the fraternity's property and the addition of 15 parking spaces. • Conception and supervision of the construction of the Sigma Pi Beach. • Reorganization of the alumni board, which involved drafting bylaws for the governance of the fraternity. • Creation of the Mu Chapter Educational Foundation with the assistance of Director Steve Hobbs '80. • Establishment of the James H. Keene III Sage Endowment Fund in 2012. • Recipient of the 2014 Founders' Award, the highest honor within Sigma Pi. Business Career • Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc. of Omaha, Neb., 1958-86. • Humboldt Specialty Manufacturing Co. of Omaha, Neb., 1993-2018. Community Accomplishments and Awards • Founder of the Opera Omaha Council. • Founder of the Brownville Concert Series. • Received the NEBRASKALander Award and the Governor's Arts Award jointly with his wife, Ruth. A Man's Quest for Excellence Remembering the Late Jim Keene '57 and His Lifetime Achievements Civic Involvement • Trustee, Doane University Crete, Neb. • Member of President's Council, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Williamsburg, Va. • Board member and co-chair of private fundraising, Nebraska Shakespeare Festival Omaha, Neb. • Member, Cornell University Council Ithaca, N.Y. • Board member, co-chair, and program director of the Brownville Concert Series, Brownville Fine Arts Association Brownville, Neb. • President and chairman, Opera Omaha Omaha, Neb. • Board member, chairman of the Omaha Symphony Foundation, and president of the Omaha Symphony Men's Council, Omaha Symphony Orchestra Omaha, Neb. • Trustee, Joslyn Art Museum Omaha, Neb. • Advisory Board, Johnson Art Museum Ithaca, N.Y. The late Jim Keene '57 during Mu's centennial celebration weekend in 2013. The Educational Foundation mourns the loss of our founder and brother, who passed away in October of 2018. A portrait of the late Jim Keene '57, prominently featured at the chapter house. • Member, Sigma Pi Educational Foundation Lebanon, Tenn. Personal Survived by his wife, Ruth; son, James; and daughters, Ruth Ann, Sarah, and Martha.

• Cover