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| Dr. Keeney, left, with Marcia Brey and Madeline Abramson at the 2018 Annual Board of Directors Meeting |
This week, the Kentucky Red Cross honors the life of one of our lifetime board members, Dr. Virginia Tripp Keeney. Dr. Keeney passed on Wednesday, May 29.
Dr. Keeney completed her first year
of medical school at the University of Louisville, where she was one of four
women in her class of 100. She put her degree on hold in 1946 when the Army
sent her husband, who had just received his M.D., to Korea as a member of the
U.S. occupying forces. Dr. Keeney went along and worked at the Army hospital in
Pusan alongside her husband. When her husband’s tour of duty was over, they
returned to the United States and she completed her medical degree at the
University of Louisville.
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| 2017 Blood Mobile ribbon cutting ceremony |
Dr. Keeney gave back to her patients
and her community her entire life. She became a pioneer in the field of medical
ethics, and received the Citizen Laureate of Louisville award for her service
in 1962 as the Kentucky co-coordinator of the first-ever national polio vaccination
drive, Sabin Oral Sunday. She was also the first woman appointed to the
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.
In addition to her work in the medical field, Dr. Keeney also served on many boards and commissions over the course of her life. She was a lifetime board member of the American Red Cross, and served as Chairman of the American Red Cross Board of Directors from 1995-1997. She was received the American Red Cross Clara Barton Honor Award twice. The Clara Barton Honor Award is the highest award the American Red Cross bestows on volunteers. It recognizes meritorious service in volunteer leadership, of which Dr. Keeney was well deserving.
In addition to her work in the medical field, Dr. Keeney also served on many boards and commissions over the course of her life. She was a lifetime board member of the American Red Cross, and served as Chairman of the American Red Cross Board of Directors from 1995-1997. She was received the American Red Cross Clara Barton Honor Award twice. The Clara Barton Honor Award is the highest award the American Red Cross bestows on volunteers. It recognizes meritorious service in volunteer leadership, of which Dr. Keeney was well deserving.
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| Dr. Keeney and Bob Adelberg, 2011 Wrapped in Red Gala |
Her life truly epitomized what being a humanitarian is and
she represented all that the American Red Cross stands for. We at the American Red Cross are grateful to have had her
passionate support and leadership for almost four decades.
