Ralph J. Keen was born March 6, 1903, near Juda and attended elementary and high school in that community. He was married to Adelheid Marie Fox, July 18, 1934. He was associated with vocational schools since 1927 when he became identified with the Janesville Vocational School. He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and received his master’s degree while in Janesville. Previous to that time he was principal of the Footville Grade School. After a 10 year stay in Janesville, he became Director of the Vocational School in Rhinelander. Director of the Beloit Vocational School from 1944 to 1951, he brought the curriculum and school up to rank with the best in the state of Wisconsin.

Deeply interested in state vocational activities, he was advisory committee chairman of the Wisconsin Vocational Directors Association, lead the apprenticeship committee and a member of the circuit relations committee. Mr. Keen was a leader of safety promotion throughout the state and was formerly Safety Council chairman in Rhinelander and in Beloit.

At the time of his death, he was chairman of the Rock County Polio Association. He was a 32^nd degree Mason, a trustee of the Second Congregational Church and a past president of both the Rhinelander and Beloit Lions Clubs. The Beloit community was shocked to hear of the death of Ralph John Keen on August 6, 1951. Mr. Keen was director of the Beloit Vocational and Adult School up to the time of his death. Surviving Mr. Keen were his wife, lovingly known as Addie Keen and two brothers, Arthur and George Keen, both of Juda.