Today in Wheeling History: September 7--Thomas Lawrence Keane, future NFL cornerback who played for the Rams, Texans, Colts, and Cardinals from 1948 to 1955, attended Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, earned All-OVAC honors there in 1943-44, and later coached the Wheeling Ironmen from 1962 to 64, was born in Bellaire, Ohio (1926).
Thomas Lawrence Keane, born on September 7, 1926, in Bellaire, Ohio, is a notable figure in American football history with strong ties to Wheeling, West Virginia. Keane attended the Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, where he excelled in both football and basketball, earning All-OVAC honors in 1943 and 1944. After high school, he played football at Ohio State University before serving in the United States Navy for 20 months. Post-service, he continued his football career at West Virginia University, lettering in 1946 and 1947.
Keane was drafted in the third round of the 1948 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He played for several teams, including the Dallas Texans, Baltimore Colts, and Chicago Cardinals, earning All-Pro honors twice and a Pro Bowl selection in 1953. After retiring as a player, Keane transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also coached the Wheeling Ironmen from 1962 to 1964 and had a long tenure with the Miami Dolphins, contributing to their undefeated 1972 season.
Keane's legacy in Wheeling is marked by his contributions to both high school and professional football, making him a celebrated figure in the city's sports history.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/VDPAJ), WVU Athletics (https://shorturl.at/gnc2m)
Photo credits: Weelunk, Wikimedia Commons, WVU Athletics
Thomas Lawrence Keane, born on September 7, 1926, in Bellaire, Ohio, is a notable figure in American football history with strong ties to Wheeling, West Virginia. Keane attended the Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, where he excelled in both football and basketball, earning All-OVAC honors in 1943 and 1944. After high school, he played football at Ohio State University before serving in the United States Navy for 20 months. Post-service, he continued his football career at West Virginia University, lettering in 1946 and 1947.
Keane was drafted in the third round of the 1948 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He played for several teams, including the Dallas Texans, Baltimore Colts, and Chicago Cardinals, earning All-Pro honors twice and a Pro Bowl selection in 1953. After retiring as a player, Keane transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also coached the Wheeling Ironmen from 1962 to 1964 and had a long tenure with the Miami Dolphins, contributing to their undefeated 1972 season.
Keane's legacy in Wheeling is marked by his contributions to both high school and professional football, making him a celebrated figure in the city's sports history.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/VDPAJ), WVU Athletics (https://shorturl.at/gnc2m)
Photo credits: Weelunk, Wikimedia Commons, WVU Athletics
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