[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H4419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING LYLE KEENAN
(Mr. Guest of Mississippi was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life
and legacy of John Lyle Keenan of Jasper County, Mississippi.
Mr. Keenan was a respected law enforcement officer and a devoted
husband, father, grandfather, friend, and neighbor whose service and
character left a lasting mark on his community.
Born in Rose Hill, Mississippi, Mr. Keenan graduated from Heidelberg
High School in 1964. He began his career at La-Z-Boy in Newton before
entering public service as a deputy with the Jasper County Sheriff's
Department.
In 1977, he joined the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries,
and Parks as a conservation officer, where he served with distinction
for more than three decades. While serving at the Department of
Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, he rose to the rank of captain for
District IV before retiring in 2010.
Two years later, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors appointed him
as interim sheriff, and he concluded his law enforcement career as a
bailiff for the circuit court.
Mr. Keenan's dedication to public service extended well beyond his
official duties. He was deeply committed to the stewardship of
Mississippi's natural resources, and he served as Jasper County
director of the Pat Harrison Waterway District. He also held leadership
roles as president of the Jasper County Farm Bureau, the Jasper County
Soil and Water Commission, the Meridian Stockyard board of directors,
and the Mississippi Pork Producers Association. He remained active in
numerous civic and agricultural organizations, including the Jasper
County Forestry Association, the Jasper County Livestock Association,
and the Bay Springs Lions Club.
Mr. Keenan was widely regarded as a man of honor and integrity, and
many sought his counsel on both personal and professional matters, a
testament to the trust he earned throughout his life. He was a faithful
member of Wesley Independent Methodist Church, where he lived out the
values that guided his service.
Mr. Keenan will be deeply missed, not only by his family, but by the
entire Jasper County community.
It is a privilege to recognize his life, his service, and his
enduring commitment to the people of Mississippi.
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