[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 20, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                    HONORING THE LIFE OF KEITH KING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG LAMBORN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 20, 2024

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor the life, legacy, and 
faith of Keith King, who died of pancreatic cancer on February 3, 2024, 
at the age of 75. Keith was a champion for the Pikes Peak region as a 
successful and generous business entrepreneur, elected official, and 
advocate for school choice and charter schools. Keith had a tremendous 
impact on those around him, but it was only possible because he was 
driven and directed by his love for Jesus Christ and his family. Keith 
King was truly a giant in advancing policies that helped families, 
children, schools, and the state of Colorado. In addition to being a 
personal colleague in the Colorado legislature for seven years and a 
brother in Christ, Keith was my friend.
  Born in Tekoa, Washington, Keith moved to Colorado and completed his 
bachelor's degree at Colorado State University, Pueblo in industrial 
education in 1970. He continued his education at Oregon State 
University in 1976 with a master's degree in vocational education. It 
was through his studies that his already budding desire to see children 
succeed in school and have as many education choices as possible 
available to them bloomed. Keith served on the Cheyenne Mountain School 
board from 1991 to 1995; and was president of Cheyenne Mountain Charter 
Academy, which he co-founded, from 1995 to 1998. Keith also started 
Colorado Springs Early Colleges and Colorado Early Colleges which 
provided high schoolers the opportunity to take college classes and 
receive job training. Education choice and specifically the emergence 
and growth of charter schools in Colorado became one of Keith's main 
passions in his legislative career.
  First elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1999, 
Keith's first year in the legislature showed immediate results. During 
his first session in office, Keith was the lead sponsor of two bills 
that improved charter school structures and operations that were signed 
into law. This impressive success record was only the beginning of 
Keith's impact on Colorado. Keith sponsored the annual school finance 
act three times and sponsored the landmark College Opportunity Fund 
which created substantial change to the funding system for public 
colleges and universities.
  Keith and his wife Sandi of more than fifty years enjoyed the 
blessings of their sons Jeremy and Brandon, their families, and their 
five grandchildren. A devoted husband and Christian, Keith embodied 1 
Corinthians 16:13-14 in every way that he lived his life, especially in 
the public square as a legislator: ``Be on your guard; stand firm in 
the faith, be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.''
  Education remains one of the most important pillars of our society 
today. Keith recognized that high-quality and well-funded education 
gave each child the best chance at an impactful life. Keith's faith and 
his family provided Keith with his ``North Star'' as he used his gifts 
and abilities to make life better for all of those around him. Even 
into his later years, Keith was on campus at local high schools 
teaching and coaching basketball. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues 
in Congress join me in remembering and honoring the life of a faithful 
man in Keith King whose impact in the Pikes Peak region will be felt 
for the rest of time.

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