Leo J. Keena

Who was Leo J. Keena?

Leo Japathet Keena was an American football player and diplomat. Keena was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1878, the son of James T. Keena and Henrietta Keena. His father was a lawyer who later became the president of the Peoples State Bank of Detroit. He played college football as a fullback and kicker for the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1899. He served in the United States Navy as a seaman on the auxiliary cruiser USS Yosemite during the Spanish–American War. After receiving his degree, he became a diplomat for the United States. He was married in August 1906 to Eleanor Clarke. Keena's early diplomatic posts include service as U.S. Consul in Chihuahua, Mexico, U.S. Counsel to Florence, Italy, U.S. Consul General in Buenos Aires, Argentina, U.S. Consul General in Valparaíso, Chile, U.S. Consul General in Zürich, Switzerland, U.S. Consul General in Warsaw, Poland, U.S. Consul in Liverpool, England, U.S. Counsul General in Havana, Cuba, and U.S. Counsul General in Paris. He was appointed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served as the United States Ambassador to Honduras from February 1935 to May 1937 and as United States Ambassador to South Africa from July 1937 to August 1942.