Background
Keena was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1878, the son of James T. Keena and Henrietta (Boyle) Keena. His father was a lawyer who later became the president of the Peoples State Bank of Detroit.
Diplomat gridiron football player
Keena was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1878, the son of James T. Keena and Henrietta (Boyle) Keena. His father was a lawyer who later became the president of the Peoples State Bank of Detroit.
University of Michigan.
He played college football as a fullback and kicker for the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1899. He served in the United States Navy as a seaman on the auxiliary cruiser United States Ship Yosemite during the Spanish–American War. After receiving his degree, he became a diplomat for the United States.
Keena"s early diplomatic posts include service as United States. Consul in Chihuahua, Mexico (1909-1910), United States. Counsel to Florence, Italy (1910-1914), United States. Consul General in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1914-1915), United States. Consul General in Valparaíso, Chile (1915-1919), United States. Consul General in Zürich, Switzerland (1919-1920), United States. Consul General in Warsaw, Poland (1920-1922), United States. Consul in Liverpool, England (1924-1926), United States. Counsul General in Havana, Cuba (1927-1929), and United States. Counsul General in Paris (1929-1932).
He was appointed by United States. President Franklin Doctorate. Roosevelt and served as the United States Ambassador to Honduras from February 1935 to May 1937 and as United States Ambassador to South Africa from July 1937 to August 1942.
