M. Leroy Keyes
2009 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI RECIPIENT
BS 1969, Physical Education
Coming to Purdue on a full athletic scholarship, Leroy Keyes chose physical recreation education as his major, believing that a healthy body and mind would lead to success. As a tailback and defensive back, Keyes was a two-time All-American, led the Boilermakers to the 1967 Big Ten Conference championship and their 1967 Rose Bowl win over USC, was the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player in 1967, and was runner-up in the 1968 Heisman Trophy balloting. Keyes was a first- round NFL draft choice in 1969 and played for five years with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. In commemoration of Purdue’s Football Centennial Anniversary, Keyes was voted the University’s “All-Time Greatest Football Player” in 1987. In 2000, he was named assistant director of the John Purdue Club. “Purdue is still one of the greatest universities worldwide,” he says. “We are still producing outstanding students, world leaders, athletes, and meaningful ways of living.”