Rabbit Keen

Keen was born on December 10, 1914, in Stilwell, Oklahoma. He attended grade school in Okmulgee and later attended Wilson Consolidated High School as well as Henryetta High School. Following high school, Keen attended Connors Agricultural College in Warner, at which he was a star athlete in football, basketball and track and field, running the quarter mile, hurdles, and for the relay team. In 1935, Keen transferred to the University of Arkansas, after two years at Connors. Keen was later named to the Connors All-Time football team in 1936. Keen saw regular action in his first year at Arkansas and was one of their best receivers, halfbacks, and their "hardest tackler." At 5 ft 9 in and 170 pounds, He started "practically every game" in 1935 and at the end of the year was awarded his first varsity letter. He also earned all-conference honors. Keen continued as a top player for Arkansas as a senior in 1936, and at the end of the year, a newspaper reported that "from his halfback post [he] has won more games for the Razorbacks than he can recall." Against the Rice University Owls that year, he scored a game-winning 60-yard punt return touchdown. He also was a member of the track and field team, captaining it in his last year, and posted a 100-yard dash time of 9.8 seconds as well as a quarter mile in 49 seconds. ==Professional career==

Keen had initially accepted a position as a coach at an Arkansas school in 1937, but eventually changed his mind and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent. running ability, and blocking despite his size, leading his teammates to nickname him "Rabbit." He was the smallest in the Eagles' backfield, but was still considered one of their best blockers, with Bert Bell saying "He hits harder for his size than any man I've ever seen." Through their second-to-last game, against the Brooklyn Dodgers, he had run 29 times for 122 yards, in addition to five receptions for 45 yards, and three incomplete pass attempts. Through 2020, it was the 14th-longest pass ever thrown by an Eagle and the 11th-longest ever thrown against the Packers, as well as the second-longest in the NFL that season; He returned to the Eagles in 1938, and initially made the team. Soon after, he was sent to the minor league Richmond Arrows of the Dixie League. A triple-threat man, Keen appeared in five games for the Arrows, missing several due to injury, and scored two touchdowns, while passing for three more. He helped the team compile a 4–3 record, placing second in the league, and at the end of the year was voted the most valuable player in the backfield. He was also a fan favorite with the Arrows, being voted the most popular back on the team. Following the season, he signed a basketball contract with Dr. Pepper's team in the Capital City League of the Richmond Basketball Commission, playing guard. Keen did not play professional football afterwards, and finished his NFL career with 9–10 games played, 37 rushes for 164 yards, and five receptions for 45 yards, for a total of 209 all-purpose yards, in addition to 86 yards passing. ==Later life and death==

Keen later served as head football coach and track coach at Heavener High School. He married Jean Thurkill in 1940. He died on June 4, 1984, in Overland Park, Kansas, at the age of 69. ==References==