BOB MCKEEL
In his RHS CAREER, Bob letter in basketball in 1963, 64, and 65. In 1965, he led the team in scoring in the State tournament with 65 points. The Blackcat State Runner-Up team finished the season with a 33-5 record. At 6’3”, McKeel was an outstanding long-range shooter and had outstanding free-throw accuracy.
Bob also lettered in baseball in 1963, 64, and 65. He played short-stop and pitched for the Blackcats. He was a team leader in the 1965 Class A State Tournament.
Bob was recruited by Harding University to play basketball. He lettered in 1966, 67, 68, and 69. Bob was a two-year starter. He was selected All-AIC in 1969 and was the team scoring leader with 601 points and averaged 22.2 ppg. In 1969, McKeel set the FT% record in the AIC at 92.9% that was good for 2nd place nationally.--a record that still stands. He also had a career Free-throw record of 87.4% at Harding—also, a record that still stands.
At Harding, Bob attained the nickname of the ‘Big Swhisher’ for his masterful accurate long-range shooting as well as his free-throw percentage—making 130 of 140 shots. His career ending honor was being selected to the NAIA All-District 17 team in 1969.
Bob also played baseball at Harding lettering in 1968 and 1969. Being his second sport, Bob compiled an impressive list of statistics. In his senior season he was 7-1 as a pitcher with five (5) shutouts and a conference leading 0.98 ERA. His career ERA was 1.68, a school record. In 1969, McKeel was named All-Conference and All-District 17 NAIA. He was also named Honorable Mention NAIA All-American.
Bob was drafted by the Kansas City Royals but chose to finish his education.
Coach Bucy commented: “Bobby had a great athletic career and had significant individual honors. I am proud about his shooting records in basketball and pitching records in baseball.”
In AAU and Semi-Pro sports play, McKeel won state championships in baseball, basketball, softball, and tennis. As a USTA team tennis player he was a State winner 10 times. As a singles player he was winner in the senior Olympics State Championships in 2008 and 2010.
Other athletic honors include being selected as the Harding University “Athlete Of The Year” in 1969. Bob was induced into the Harding University Sports Hall Of Fame in 1994 as a two-sport athlete.