As an undergraduate at Cortland, Earl Keefer played football for three years under Coach "Chugger" Davis, participated in track and field for three years under coaches George Linck, T. Fred "Prof" Holloway and John Stein, wrestled one varsity match against Mohawk College and practiced with the ski team on occasion. As a football player he was the high scorer in 1947 with five touchdowns and in 1948 with four touchdowns. In 1947 he ran 55 yards for a 4th quarter touchdown against Mansfield for a come from behind team victory 13-6. In 1948, he was the leading ground gainer with 441 yards was named to the United Press Second Team All-Upstate Football Team that same year. Keefer earned a bachelor's degree from Cortland in 1949 and a Master's of Science in Education from Hofstra University.
Keefer was a teacher of physical education at Levittown Public Schools, Levittown, N.Y., assistant principal with Levittown Public Schools, principal of secondary schools in Levittown, principal of secondary schools in East Islip, N.Y., and principal of Baldwin Senior High School in Baldwin, N.Y. Keefer belonged to the School Administrators Association of New York State, the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Association of Baldwin Aministrators. He was also president of the New York State Association of Secondary School Administrators.
When asked how athletics affected his life, Keefer responded "Athletics have always played an instrumental role in my life and career. Without question, athletics gave me an incentive to enter teacher training in 1946 after military service. Since I wanted to work with young people on more than just the academic level, I prepared for a teaching career in physical education and coaching. Athletics have helped me to develop the value system which I feel has been so helpful in making me a successful school administrator. More-over, athletics, which taught me to never accept defeat, helped me through the stage of kidney failure, subsequent dialysis, and successful kidney transplant."
When asked to try and single out his "biggest athletic thrill" at Cortland, Keefer reflected "My biggest athletic thrills were being chosen as a representative of Cortland on the second team of the United Press All-Upstate New York Football team in 1948, and my 55 yard touchdown run against Mansfield in 1947 for a come from behind victory."
UPDATE: Keefer passed away on Sept. 22, 2001.
