CLIFFORD “RED” KEITH - INDUCTEE #47
hall of fame fast fact:
The May 4, 1929, West Texas newspaper, 'The Prairie', reported Clifford Keith's exploits in a track meet against New Mexico Military Institute. "The best race of the afternoon was the relay. Barrett, Carter, Lee, and Keith won the relay in three minutes, 33 seconds," the story reported. "The Institute relay team was only a few feet behind when Keith took the baton and took an easy stride to step off and leave Hill, the Institute anchor man."
Clifford "Red" Keith
The Ralls native earned four letters in football, four in basketball, four in track, and two in baseball, at WT.
Red Keith played football at 158 pounds; he was a speedy halfback and quarterback. He also handled the kicking chores. Keith was all-conference in both football and basketball. He was often the leading scorer for Burton’s basketball teams, which won back-to-back TIAA titles. The 1929-30 team compiled a 9-1 conference record and scored 40.5 points a game. Hence it was called the “point-a-minute basketball team.” Keith ran the sprints, anchored the relay, and competed in the broad jump. His best WT times were 9.9 seconds in the 100, 22 seconds flat for the 220, and 53 seconds for the 440.
In 1928, Keith and WT teammate Bud Bagwell, PSHOF No. 79, were invited to compete in the Southern Olympic tryouts in Dallas. Bagwell won the 880, and Keith was a member of the TIAA relay team that finished first.
Red Keith had a coaching career before he died in 1992 at age 86.
