|
Keane, Gordon Hunter
|
|
| LAST: Keane
|
FIRST: Gordon
|
MID: Hunter
|
|
| GENDER: M
|
MAIDEN NAME:
|
TITLE:
|
|
| BORN: 21 Jan 1908
|
DIED: 13 Oct 1997
|
BURIED:
|
|
|
OCCUPATION: Attorney
|
|
| BIRTH PLACE: Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
|
|
| DEATH PLACE: Multnomah Co., Oregon
|
|
NOTES:
*OSBH DC (Multnomah County 1997) #97-22206;
1910 WA CENSUS - Gordon Keane, age 2, b. Oregon, is enumerated with his father Edward Keane, age 33, occupaton architect, b. New York, and [mother] Ida T., age 36, b. Iowa, along with Rodger and Ruth, both 4, b. Oregon. Also enumerated with the family is Nora Hunter, identified as sister-in-law [of Edward, age 35, single, b. Oregon.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (From Funeral Service booklet, provided by Gordon H. Keane, Jr.):
Gordon Hunter Keane, Sr., who died October 13, 1997, at the age of 89, was born in Portland, Oregon January 21, 1908, but raised in Eastern Oregon. His mother, Ida May Hunter, and his father, Edward Keane, lived in Milton with Gordon’s older brother, Roger (who was to reside in the San Francisco area).
Mrs. Keane taught school and Mr. Keane was an architect and builder. The family moved to Pendleton in the early ‘20s, where all the children graduated from Pendleton High School.
Gordon began his college career at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, in the School of Pharmacy in 1926. In 1929 he transferred to the University of Oregon Law School where he graduated in 1932.
In 1933 he passed the Oregon State Bar exam and began practicing law in the firm of Fictor Pendergrass located in the Journal Building on Broadway in Downtown Portland. August 1, 1935 he married Georgia Lou Miller, whose father, George, owned and operated the Miller Mercantile Company. The family moved to their long time residence at 1890 SW Hawthorne Terrace.
In 1940 Gordon and Robert Leedy began a law practice together. However World War II intervened, and Gordon joined the Navy as a lieutenant. He was trained in harbor control operations and the Navy sent Gordon, Georgia and young daughter, Ann page Keane, to Tucson, San Francisco, Norfolk, and New London for training as he prepared to participate in the invasion forces. He was sent to Cherbourg, France in the summer of 1944 and was involved in the management of this harbor, which was so essential in supplying the Allied forces for the remainder of the War. These were days that Gordon would remember fondly for the rest of his life. The combination of the spirit of repelling the German forces, being in the midst of the French people at that time, and landmarks such as the Castle at Mount St. Michel left a lasting impression on the young Naval officer. He returned from the war with a variety of souvenirs, including a large swastika (which turned out to be difficult to use in the home), and a collection of Matisee prints which have been on the walls of the Keane home ever since.
In 1945 he was stationed in Seattle with the Judge Advocate Corps, where he acted in defense of military personnel. Later in 1945, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and discharged from the Navy. He returned to Portland to continue his law practice with Leedy in the Journal Building. Gordon Hunter Keane, Jr. Was born the next year and joined the family in the Hawthorne Terrace home.
Shortly before 1950 Gordon moved to the American Bank Building with Leedy to start the firm of Barzee, Leedy and Keane. In this firm he established a long-lasting relationship with the Columbian Bifocal Company, an optical lens manufacturing laboratory. He worked in defense of the independent optical laboratories to battle the monopolistic business practices of American Optical and Bausch and Lomb. During this period he also began his work for the Christie School and the Children’s Clinic.
In 1958 he left the Barzee firm to head the firm of Keane, Haessler, still in the American Bank Building. In this firm he worked on the landmark case against General Electric declaring the Fair Trade Laws void in Oregon. Oregon was the first common law state to void these laws. In 1961 David Harper joined them and together they built the firm to the point where they had outgrown their space in the American Bank Building. In 1971 this firm moved to the First National Bank Tower, on the 35th floor, where it is still located.
In the later years of the Viet Nam conflict Gordon donated his services as appeals agent to the local draft board, where he helped many young men in their appeals. By 1976 the firm was Keane, Harper, et al, and Gordon continued his work on foreign banking as he represented the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
In 1983 Gordon “retired” to private practice in the historic Carriage House on Broadway where he continued his association with former partner Frank Bauman, and worked on various projects for long time friends and clients. 1987 found him back in the American Bank Building with friend George Birnie. After a surgery in 1990 that required a lengthy recovery, Gordon discontinued keeping an office.
Gordon joined the Arlington Club in 1963 and enjoyed its facilities and fellowship until the end of his life. In retirement he was frequently to be found in the Arlington Club reading the New York Times or Wall Street Journal, in conversation with friends, playing cards or dominoes, or eating lunch at the Round Table.
|
|
OBITUARY:
|
|
INSCRIPTION:
Gordon Hunter
Keane
Jan. 21, 1908 - Oct. 13, 1997
|
|
SOURCES:
Saucy
ODI
1910 WA CENSUS (Whitman Co., Pullman, ED 271, sheet 6A)
|
|
| SECTION: A
|
LOT:
|
|
|
IMAGES:
|
|
