Bill Keppler

I was born in Teaneck, New Jersey on 20 January 1937, almost 72 years ago.
 

At an early age, my mother and father moved to Miami, Florida where I was raised and educated. I attended elementary, junior and senior high school in Miami, Florida.

 

I played baseball and ran track in high school with our future governor and senator, Bob Graham.

 

I attended  the University of Miami in Coral Gables graduating with high honors in Zoology and Chemistry. I was voted the outstanding senior in Science.

 

I was awarded a fellowship to the University of Illinois to work on a Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences and graduated with High Honors. I was accepted into a new doctorate program in Genetics and graduated in 1965.

 

Meanwhile, I was in the Army ROTC program and became a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army serving under Secretary John O. Marsh, Jr., our nation's longest serving Secretary of the Army. I was awarded the Civilian Distinguished Service medal for contributions to our nation's security.

 

I have been a department chair in Public Health, dean of health, vice president for academic affairs, provost, and a college president at five different universities.

 

Before I retired, I went back to school at The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in the Medical School while on sabbatical in 1995 and earned a Certificate in Public Health Biostatistics and Epidemiology.

 

I am married to Anne Keppler and have one grown son, an attorney, and two granddaughters.

 

I retired here at age 71.

 

I am very proud to be a Rotarian and proud to be an American.

 

My favorite quote is what three people said about yourself. They were separated by thousands of years.

 

It was Socrates, a Greek, who said, "Know thyself."

It was Cicero, a Roman, who said, " Control thyself."

It was Jesus, a Jew, who said, "Give Thyself."

 

This quote has been my motto.