Greg Keeler is a Montana songwriter, poet, writer, artist, humorist, and professor. He also plays the guitar, harmonica, and kazoo. Keeler was born in the flatlands of Oklahoma with his one brother. Keeler was a professor at Montana State University where he taught creative writing and contemporary literature. Keeler started teaching at Montana State University in 1975. He graduated with a master's degree from Oklahoma State University and later went on to earn his D.A. from Idaho State University. He has published three books, written collections of poetry, has produced six plays, recorded ten tapes and CDs, and has published many articles in magazines and journals. His paintings have gone up for display in exhibits at MSU and in Butte. Keeler is the father of two sons and is married to Judy Keeler, a retired adjunct professor of English at MSU.
Biography
Keeler was born and raised in the flatlands of Oklahoma. He was born into a household of Professors. His father was an English professor at Oklahoma State University where he wrote poems and essays. His mother was a professor of Child Development and Family Relations at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater. His brother is a professor of economics at University of California Berkeley. At a very young age he was inspired by his family to sing, paint and write, which he believes is the reason he still loves these things today. Entertaining others was something that he derived joy from, which he did often as a child. To him, entertaining others meant to be funny and that's what he did. He would make a joke and get laughs from them which may be the reason why he is a modern day humorist in his writings. He grew up fishing with his father and has fond memories of fishing Long Lake, Minn. and has loved the sport of fishing his entire life. As a kid he wanted to grow up and be a fisherman. He considers fishing more than just a sport, but a way of life. Fishing to him is not about the fish you catch, but the fact that fishing itself is so beautiful and needs to be fun. He loves the mountains and fishing, so when he was teaching in Louisiana and saw a job opening as an English professor at Montana State University, he was eager to jump on the boat. In 1975 he was hired as a temporary Professor of English at MSU where he met his wife, Judy Keeler. After two years, his job was under academic review and this caused him hardship. The reasoning for his close loss of his job was that he was not publishing his works in professional journals. After hiring a lawyer, he got to keep his job at MSU. It was hard for him to make a living on an English professor's paycheck, so during the summer, he would buck bales for some extra money. This inspired him to write satirical songs and poems about the hay fields, which either made the people he worked with in the fields angry or laugh. For a while he was writing poems every day. Some days Keeler can be found writing hysterical poems; while on others, he can be caught painting. Keeler's focus is never on just one thing; he applies his talents equally. His love of writing has gained him honors and awards. In 1998 he received the Charles and Nora L. Wiley Award. This award is given to a faculty member of MSU for their research and creativity. Then in 2001 he received the Governor's Award in Humanities. Today Keeler is constantly being looked up to by members of the college and his community. Sara Jayne Steen, head of the English Department at MSU said "…Greg is one of the true lights at Montana State University" His work is also nationally recognized on PBS and his songs are being used nationally and internationally through documentaries.
