The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Peter Keenan is undoubtedly one of Peru’s best-known residents. Born in March 1930, Keenan has met many people over the past 90 years. To describe Keenan as active is an understatement. He was first known as a sports star at Peru High School, then as a player-manager for Adirondack League baseball teams, a baseball umpire, a 20-year Peru Central School bus driver, Knights of Columbus officer, hall/dinner/BBQ chairman, an active member of St. Augustine Church, Honor Flight participant, Justice of the Peace and Clinton County Legislator. Wintertime Champlain Centre shoppers recognize him on his 2.5-mile walks and Peru hamlet residents see him on his 1.5-mile vigorous walks.

A conversation with Peter Keenan is a lesson in local history and personalities.  He spent the first seven years of his life living in the Town of Schuyler Falls, World War II intervened. In 1937 the U.S. Army conducted maneuvers on Joseph and Gerald Keenan’s land in Shingle Street forcing them to move to Plattsburgh and then Peru.  At high school in Peru, Peter played five sports – soccer, baseball, basketball, track, and 6–man football. He was a baseball all-star four times, but today he says his best sport was basketball. Ironically, World War II impacted him a second time when he and other students picked apples after school. He recalled, “In 1944 we didn’t have any fall sports. There wasn’t anyone left to pick apples. Help was scarce.” Keenan relishes his memories of playing with or against outstanding athletes like Roy McGee, Bob Bruno, Bob Garrow and Urgil Votraw. Tony Papero was his coach during the last two years of high school.  In 2015, Peter joined some of his heroes when he was inducted into the Peru Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Following high school, Keenan got a job with Agway Petroleum. He recalled, “Donald Covel Sr. put in a good word for me.” A year later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. where he served for two years specializing in cryptology. Discharged in 1953, he returned to Agway Petroleum for several months before becoming a Correction Officer at Clinton Prison. He worked at the Dannemora prison for the next 26 years retiring in 1980. Keenan has good memories of being a Corrections Officers saying, “It was a good job. I worked with good people as a whole.”

In 1954 Keenan began his first “side-job” umpiring high school, college and Champlain Valley League baseball. He stated, “I enjoyed being able to stay in the game and doing what I could to further the sport.”  As an umpire, Keenan partnered with personalities like Wayne Labarge, Bobby Parker, Walt Vanderhoff, Roger Wright and Bernie Steuart. In 1987, he and several other umpires traveled to England with the Peru and AuSable Valley baseball teams on a month-long exhibition tour of England.  Peter’s umpiring career spanned 45 years.

Umpiring baseball led to the most significant event in Peter Keenan’s life, his marriage to Maryann King of Chazy Lake. After umpiring a game at the Dannemora playground, Peter and a few friends stopped at Tings Restaurant for a little libation. Maryann was working at Tings. The rest is history. The couple married in 1956 and enjoyed 54 years of happiness together. Maryann passed away in 2010. Anyone who knows Peter Keenan is well-aware of the mutual love and respect Maryann and Peter enjoyed. Asked what he considered to be his greatest accomplishment, Peter responded, “My wife’s accomplishments. Going through nursing school with four kids and a husband at home. It was a big accomplishment.” The couple’s four children Phillip, Phyllis, Paula and Peter all graduated from Peru High School. Today their father looks forward to their regular visits and help when he needs it. 

Along with baseball, Pete Keenan has another longtime interest – politics. He said, “I’ve always been interested in politics and I’ve always been a Democrat. I thought it would be nice if Peru could have a two-party system.” He ran for the Peru Town Council only to be defeated in what was a one-party Republican town. Nevertheless, he remained active in party politics. In 1986, when there was an open spot on the ticket, he decided to run for town justice. He not only won but was elected to six terms of office, retiring in 2010. He commented, “I was the only elected Democrat in the Town of Peru for 18 of those 24 years.”

In 2011, at age 80, Keenan ran for the Clinton County Legislature. Being elected didn’t come easily. Legislative Area Five takes one Peru district and all of the Town of Schuyler Falls. Keenan visited every residence often driven by his close friend former Clinton County District Attorney Joseph Kelley.  He was elected in 1981, reelected in 2015, and retired at the end of 2019 at age 89. He especially enjoyed working on the airport committee during the airport’s significant expansion and helping with funding for the North Country Honor Flight.

Peru Town Supervisor and Democratic Party Chairman Brandy McDonald said Pete and Maryann Keenan helped him get started in politics. He commented, “Pete’s a man of his word. If he says he’s going to do something he will do it.  He’s committed to the Democratic Party, but he even more committed to the people he serves.”

Former County Legislator Mark Dame, a Republican and solid fiscal conservative, commented, “Pete and I went into the Legislature in 1982. I didn’t know him real well. I’ve been exposed to a lot of people in my political career. Pete’s rock-solid. He has common sense. He’s not a grandstander. He doesn’t speak until he needs to speak. When he does, people listen, plus he’s a very nice man! I’ve never met anyone I respect more.” Former Clinton County Legislature Chairman Jimmy Langley, also a dedicated Republican, stated, “Pete’s a public servant through and through. He got into politics for the right reasons. He likes to stay busy. He’s not a sit around type of guy.”

Langley couldn’t be more correct. Pete Keenan is still active in the community and maintains his almost three-acre lawn. A few days ago, he used a chain saw to cut his ever-expanding sumac trees. He did get a little frustrated having to take a break after using the chainsaw for an hour. His most enjoyable activity is playing golf once a week with his longtime friend Gary Long. Pete says, “Gary spoils me. He even loads my bag into the car.”

Asked for the secret of his longevity, Keenan responded, “Good health, my wife Maryann, quitting smoking 60 years ago and staying active.” How does he want to be remembered?  He responded, “As I am now. I think people are very good.”