• Jim Keepers - 1996

Jim Keepers of East Troy for induction to the Hall in September 1995.  Keepers, a native of Madison and long-time teacher and coach in Franklin, will be the guest of honor at ceremonies to be held in Eagle River September 16.

A native of Madison who became one of the founding fathers of the Southeastern Hockey Association of Wisconsin (SHAW), Keepers has a long and distinguished career in the interests of Wisconsin Hockey.

Keepers played hockey for the Junior Madison Cardinals and then the Rockton Wagon Wheel Cardinals.  After graduating from now UW-Platteville, Keepers began his teaching career in Iola.  Moving on to Franklin in 1962, Keepers continued his teaching career and became the wrestling coach.  He then played with the Milwaukee Wings Hockey Team, the forerunner of the Milwaukee Admirals.

Following his playing career, Keepers began officiating, working games from youth hockey up through professional hockey in the International Hockey League.
 
Keepers' officiating career included the chance to be the linesman for a game between a United States Hockey League all star team and the United States National Team in 1980.  That national team went on to be the Lake Placid "Miracle on Ice" team which won the gold medal for the United States.  His referreeing career included work in the Metro Milwaukee Hockey Association Winter and Summer Leagues, college and club hockey in the Milwaukee area and work for the Milwaukee Admirals.
    
Beginning in 1970 and continuing through the present, Keepers made many presentations about the sport of ice hockey to such varied groups as Boy Scouts, church groups, high school physical education classes and Lions Clubs.  These presentations included demonstrations and lectures in support of the sport of ice hockey.  One of the unique activities which Keepers undertook was annually taking each of his high school wrestling teams to a Milwaukee Admirals game.

Keepers has been instrumental in fund raising for many community organizations including providing the means for the disabled to watch hockey.  His efforts have spanned a host of community events which have helped to promote hockey in Wisconsin, and in the Milwaukee area in particular.