WHEREAS, Joseph D. Keenan, Jr., the owner of Edward Electric Company, a former president of the Electrical Contractors Association in Chicago and a distinguished World War II Naval veteran attached to the Scouts and Raiders, the original Special Operations Personnel whose exploits inspired the modern Naval SEALS team, has passed away in Eagle River Wisconsin; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Chicago native Joseph D. Keenan, Jr. was born on September 20, 1921 and is the son of Joseph Keenan, Secretary emeritus of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and a recipient of the Medal of Freedom Award and the Medal of Merit for his war-time service; and
WHEREAS, Joseph D. Keenan, Jr. graduated from Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and attended the University of Notre Dame until he enlisted in the Navy following the surprise attack on the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor; and
WHEREAS, Joseph D. Keenan, Jr. received military training at the U.S. Navy's V-12 Program at the University of Wisconsin , where he was Captain and Most Valuable Player for the 1943 Badgers' football team; and
WHEREAS, in 1943 Joseph D. Keenan, Jr. was listed on several All-Big Ten Teams as a center and middle linebacker and earned an Honorable Mention on the 1943 United Press All-American Team; and
WHEREAS, in 2016 the University of Wisconsin named Joseph D. Keenan, Jr. honorary captain for the Illinois-Wisconsin game; and
WHEREAS, as a member of the Scouts and Raiders, the original Special Operations Personnel under the command of Captain Phillip M. Bucklew, Joseph D. Keenan, Jr., through his gallantry in China during World War II, is one of the "founding fathers" of the modern-day Navy SEALS team; and
WHEREAS, following his war-time service Joseph D. Keenan, Jr. returned to the University of Wisconsin where he was betrothed to Florence Dobranski; and
WHEREAS, in a lifetime of public ...
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