Henry Keller ’43

There’s no question about it: being a Phi Kap has made a profound difference in Henry Keller’s life. In some ways, it has made ALL the difference.

“I met my wife at the house,” he begins, with a nostalgic twinkle in his eye. “We were both Penn Staters, though I was in law school at the time. We both happened to be visiting the chapter on the same weekend. Her sorority sister was married to one of my fraternity brothers.” Ann Henry and Henry Keller were married in 1948 and have never looked back.

“…alumni should take the time to get involved with the fraternity. We will always need leadership, advisors and mentors” – Henry Keller ’43

There’s no question about it: being a Phi Kap has made a profound difference in Henry Keller’s life. In some ways, it has made ALL the difference.

Henry is a Phi Kap through and through. As a matter of fact, his father and five uncles were all members of the fraternity.

Each weekday morning, Henry heads off to work at the independent insurance agency he helped create. “I work every day for four hours,” he says. “We’re a property and casualty insurance agency. I do a lot of the appraisals. You’ve got to understand property values, and I guess I do.”

Membership in Phi Kappa Sigma helped him to develop the work ethic and leadership skills that have served him well throughout his successful business career. “There were a lot of fine young men in the house,” he explains. “We learned discipline and the value of hard work and regular study. My older brothers expected me to perform and helped me to do well. There was a lot of competition for grades, and we took part in many sports and extra curricular activities as well. What I learned from my Phi Kap experience was very helpful to me in my life. It got me over the many bumps I encountered along the way.”

Henry has always loved staying in touch andgetting involved in homecoming. “As a Phi Kap, I have something to come home to.” And he is still in touch with a number of brothers, including Bill Sandston ’42, TomMitchell ’43, Tad Salom ’49, Jim Drylie ’43, Dick Schweiker ’50, Otto Grupp ’51 and Ron Coder ’51.

“Jim Drylie is a piece of cake. He’s a hustler and still works in the steel business. And Schweiker is the only United States Senator who graduated from Penn State. He served in President Reagan’s cabinet.”

He and 20 of his brothers served in World War II and wrote to one another for many years. “I served in the Pacific and was in the battle for the Philippines with General McArthur,” he says. “Some of the brothers were in the European theater.”
As a senior, Henry served as the president of the Penn State Inter-Fraternity Council and, following graduation, worked on the chapter’s alumni board for 30 years.

Fraternal life can still be a powerful force in a young person’s life. “It can provide today’s young people with a stronger sense of direction and purpose. However, if I could speak with them directly, I would advise them to take greater responsibility for their actions and take care of their chapter’s property and reputation. Treat others well and help people as best you can. And alumni should take the time to get involved with the fraternity. We will always need leadership, advisors and mentors.”