[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN MEMORY OF THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF GEORGE KELLER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JACKIE SPEIER-

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 2009

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise in both sadness and awe as I 
reflect on the passing of George M. Keller who, together with his late 
wife Adelaide, was a philanthropic titan on the San Francisco peninsula 
and across our country.
  Born in Kansas City and raised in Chicago, Mr. Keller moved to San 
Francisco with his new bride when he took a job with Standard Oil after 
graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree 
in chemical engineering--a degree delayed by George's service in the 
United States Army Air Force during World War II.
  Settling in San Mateo, George worked for Standard Oil (later Chevron) 
for half a century, eventually becoming the company's chairman in 1981. 
As chairman, he led Standard's 1984 bid to acquire Gulf Oil 
Corporation, at the time, the largest corporate takeover in history. 
Two years after retiring from Chevron in 1988, George and his wife 
established the George M. and Adelaide M. Keller Foundation.
  Madam Speaker, I am constantly reminded of the generosity of the 
Keller family. The 12th Congressional District's San Mateo County 
Health Center is a principle beneficiary of the foundation, having 
received millions of dollars in recent years. Much of that money went 
to helping some of the most vulnerable members of our community through 
the Keller Center for Family Violence Intervention.
  George Keller's work in our community touched virtually everyone. He 
served as Chairman of the Board of Belmont's Notre Dame de Namur 
University from 1982 to 1994 and as Chair of the Bay Area Council from 
1985 to 1988. He and Adelaide's philanthropy has benefited many local 
institutions, including the Lighthouse for the Blind, the 
Exploratorium, the Coyote Point Museum and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 
In addition, the Keller Foundation has supported homeless shelters, 
firefighters and helped build a playground for special needs children 
in Burlingame.
  Adelaide, the love of George's life, passed away last year. She and 
George are survived by three sons, Bill, Bob and Barry, and six 
grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, not all of us leave an indelible mark on our community 
when our time on earth is done, but George Keller certainly did, and we 
are all the better because of it.