TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics mourns the loss of former swimmer William Keating Sr.
The namesake of the Keating Aquatic Center on UC's campus and a key figure from one of the greatest eras in UC swimming history passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at the age of 93.
Keating was a veteran, Bearcats student-athlete (BBA 1950, JD 1950), recipient of the NCAA Silver Anniversary Medal, former Chairman of the Board of the UC Board of Trustees, a judge, city councilman, congressman, newspaper publisher and a longtime supporter of UC Athletics.
Born on March 30, 1927 in Cincinnati, Keating attended St. Xavier High School, where he was an All-American swimmer, graduating in 1945. He served in the U.S. Naval Corps during World War II and later as a first lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve as a Judge Advocate General.
He attended UC, where he was a standout in the pool, four-year letterwinner and a team captain in 1950.
The Keating name is synonymous with UC's swimming and diving program as Keating, his son Bill Jr. and brother Charles all swam at UC and are enshrined in the James P. Kelly. UC Athletics Hall of Fame. Bill Jr., who died in 2017, was a longtime supporter of women's sports in the Cincinnati area and received UC's Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 2013.
Charles, who passed away in 2014, was UC's first NCAA Champion, winning the 200 butterfly at the 1946 NCAA meet. Not only was it the first national title in any sport by a Bearcat, but Keating and teammate Roy Lagaly became the first UC swimmers to earn All-America honors.
The Keating Aquatic Center, a state-of-the-art swimming facility attached to UC's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, opened in 2006.
Following graduation with his bachelor's and law degree in 1950, Keating went into private practice and helped found the law firm of Keating, Muething & Keating in 1954 with his brother Charles. Today it is known as Keating, Muething & Klekamp.
He became an assistant attorney general for Ohio in 1957, was a judge in the Hamilton County courts from 1958-67, served two terms on Cincinnati's City Council from 1967-70 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Ohio's First Congressional District from 1971-74.
After returning to his hometown in 1974, Keating started a publishing career, working as chairman, chief executive officer and publisher of The Cincinnati Enquirer, chairman of the Associated Press, CEO of the Detroit Newspaper Agency, president of the Newspaper Division of Gannett Co., Inc. and executive vice president and general counsel for Gannett.
He earned honorary degrees from UC, Xavier University and the College of Mount St. Joseph, received the UC Alumni Association's William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement in 1974, was inducted in UC's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981, the athletics hall of fame at St. Xavier HS in 1993 and was tabbed for the UCATS Order of the Black Blazer in 2004.
He was honored as a Great Living Cincinnatian in 2001 and inducted into the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame in 2009.
Keating is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter Nancy (Dale) Roe; daughter-in-law Joan Keating (widow of Bill Jr.); son Mike (Jane); son Dan (Becky); daughter Susie (John) Lame; son Tom; and son John (Michelle); 28 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
The family asks that donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Nancy and William Keating Scholarship Fund at St. Xavier High School; Xavier University; or the University of Cincinnati.
The namesake of the Keating Aquatic Center on UC's campus and a key figure from one of the greatest eras in UC swimming history passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at the age of 93.
Keating was a veteran, Bearcats student-athlete (BBA 1950, JD 1950), recipient of the NCAA Silver Anniversary Medal, former Chairman of the Board of the UC Board of Trustees, a judge, city councilman, congressman, newspaper publisher and a longtime supporter of UC Athletics.
Born on March 30, 1927 in Cincinnati, Keating attended St. Xavier High School, where he was an All-American swimmer, graduating in 1945. He served in the U.S. Naval Corps during World War II and later as a first lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve as a Judge Advocate General.
He attended UC, where he was a standout in the pool, four-year letterwinner and a team captain in 1950.
The Keating name is synonymous with UC's swimming and diving program as Keating, his son Bill Jr. and brother Charles all swam at UC and are enshrined in the James P. Kelly. UC Athletics Hall of Fame. Bill Jr., who died in 2017, was a longtime supporter of women's sports in the Cincinnati area and received UC's Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 2013.
Charles, who passed away in 2014, was UC's first NCAA Champion, winning the 200 butterfly at the 1946 NCAA meet. Not only was it the first national title in any sport by a Bearcat, but Keating and teammate Roy Lagaly became the first UC swimmers to earn All-America honors.
The Keating Aquatic Center, a state-of-the-art swimming facility attached to UC's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, opened in 2006.
Following graduation with his bachelor's and law degree in 1950, Keating went into private practice and helped found the law firm of Keating, Muething & Keating in 1954 with his brother Charles. Today it is known as Keating, Muething & Klekamp.
He became an assistant attorney general for Ohio in 1957, was a judge in the Hamilton County courts from 1958-67, served two terms on Cincinnati's City Council from 1967-70 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Ohio's First Congressional District from 1971-74.
After returning to his hometown in 1974, Keating started a publishing career, working as chairman, chief executive officer and publisher of The Cincinnati Enquirer, chairman of the Associated Press, CEO of the Detroit Newspaper Agency, president of the Newspaper Division of Gannett Co., Inc. and executive vice president and general counsel for Gannett.
He earned honorary degrees from UC, Xavier University and the College of Mount St. Joseph, received the UC Alumni Association's William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement in 1974, was inducted in UC's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981, the athletics hall of fame at St. Xavier HS in 1993 and was tabbed for the UCATS Order of the Black Blazer in 2004.
He was honored as a Great Living Cincinnatian in 2001 and inducted into the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame in 2009.
Keating is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter Nancy (Dale) Roe; daughter-in-law Joan Keating (widow of Bill Jr.); son Mike (Jane); son Dan (Becky); daughter Susie (John) Lame; son Tom; and son John (Michelle); 28 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
The family asks that donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Nancy and William Keating Scholarship Fund at St. Xavier High School; Xavier University; or the University of Cincinnati.