Gold Medal Award to
Keith Keppel

By Bennett Jones, Oregon

The gold medal is the highest award of the American Iris Society. It is given in recognition of continuous, dedicated service to the Society. This is certainly an accurate account of Keith's commitment over the past many years.
....Keith became interested in irises in 1953 upon discovering a planting of them in a neighboring garden. Soon afterwards he began to grow them in his garden, with SNOW FLURRY (Rees '39) among his most notable acquisitions. In 1957, from an ad in a gardening magazine, he learned of the American Iris Society. He promptly sent in his membership fee along with an inquiry, "How do I become a judge?". In due time he learned of and fulfilled those requirements, becoming among the most discerning in that area.
....A graduate of Cal State Polly-Tech College, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and an interest in plant breeding, Keith experienced early success when one of his early introductions, BABBLING BROOK, was awarded the Dykes Medal in 1972. He was the first editor of Flight Lines when that feature was added to the AIS Bulletin, and he served a term as vice president of the Median Iris Society. He was a contributing writer for The World of Irises, and a number of his articles may be found in our AIS Bulletins. He was appointed to a part term on the Board of Directors (1976-1977), then was elected to a full term ending in 1980. In 1982 Keith assumed the editorship of the AIS Bulletin, a position he held for five years, providing some of our most informative publications.
....With a penchant for proofing copy and diagramming pedigrees, Keith served for a number of years on the registration committee assisting Kay Nelson in her position as Registrar and Advertising editor. Upon their marriage in 1992 the office was moved to California and later to Oregon. Following Kay's untimely death in 1994, Keith continued as Registrar, recording registrations and introductions of irises world wide. He is responsible for compiling and publishing the booklet of Registrations and Introductions, and at the end of the decade, the Iris Checklist.
....Keith's other awards include the Foster Memorial Plaque, the highest award of the British Iris Society, the aforementioned Dykes Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Hybridizer's Medal. Trophies from home and abroad are too numerous to mention, and now, most deservedly, Keith is the recipient of the AIS Gold Medal.............................................Return to people index

Keith Keppel making crosses in his Salem, Oregon garden Return to people index

Keith Keppel making crosses in his Salem, Oregon garden Return to people index

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