[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LATE DR. CLIFFORD H. KEENE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2000

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, today I honor a man who helped 
usher in the age of the health maintenance organization. Dr. Clifford 
H. Keene passed away at the age of 89.
  Born in Buffalo, NY on January 28, 1910, Clifford later on went to 
earn his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School 
in 1934 and was a surgical instructor there until 1939. During World 
War II Clifford rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel as the surgeon 
and medical administrator for the 24th Corps in the Pacific Theater. 
His career with the Kaiser-Permanente Medical Care Program began in 
1954 when industrialist Henry Kaiser asked him to join the then-
struggling Kaiser health care system. Under Clifford's leadership, 
Kaiser Permanente grew into the largest nonprofit health care system in 
the United States. Over the years, he held a number of various 
positions including the Regional Manager of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals 
and Health Plan in Northern California, the Medical Program Coordinator 
for Kaiser Industries Corporation and the director, vice president and 
general manager of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Inc., and the Kaiser 
Foundation Health Plan. Clifford was also elected President of various 
Kaiser Foundation Medical Care Entities including the Kaiser hospitals 
and the Kaiser Research Institute and International Foundation. 
Clifford retired from active administration in 1970 and from the Kaiser 
Board of Directors in 1980.
  Clifford will be forever remembered by his dear family and friends. 
He will be sorely missed by the many people who were privileged to know 
him personally and professionally. Clifford is survived by his wife, 
Mary; three daughters, Patricia Ann Kneedler of Forth Worth, TX, Martha 
Jane Sproule of Palos Park, IL, and Diane Eve Simonds of St. Helena; a 
sister Harriet Krueger of Sarasota, FL; seven grandchildren and six 
great grandchildren.

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