New Lindner Award Created in Honor of Longtime UC Supporter

The Carl H. Lindner College of Business established a new student leadership award in memory of the late William Keating Jr., who passed away March 29, 2017. He was 63.

The Heart of William J. Keating, Jr. Leadership Award will go to an outstanding junior who demonstrates the spirit of Mr. Keating by making a genuine difference in the lives of others. The scholarship awards will honor a student who has already made an impact on society and who will continue to leave their mark after graduation. The scholarship award will be presented annually by a member of the Keating family at the Cincinnati Business Achievement Awards.

“Bill was a once-in-a-lifetime person whose focus was on giving back to others, always offering not only words of encouragement and support, but offering his unending pledge to help and then find ways to make the seemingly improbable happen,” says David Szymanski, dean of the Lindner College of Business.

Keating’s ties to UC run deep. He was a three-time graduate of UC, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, MBA and law degree.

He practiced law at the downtown firm Keating Muething & Klekamp for almost 40 years. Keating’s support for UC and its Lindner College of Business were steadfast. He served as chairperson of Lindner’s Business Advisory Council and vice chair of the UC Center for Entrepreneurship & Commercialization. He also served on UC's Board of Trustees from 1981-90. In 2013, the UC Alumni Association honored Keating with its Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

As a student, Keating was a standout student-athlete in swimming, having competed for the UC swim team in the mid-1970’s and was inducted into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992 and the UCATS Order of the Black Blazer in 2007. A two-time team captain, Keating qualified for the NCAA Championships all four years and helped the Bearcats to four-consecutive league titles.  The Jimmy Nippert Award recipient (most outstanding senior male student-athlete), Keating left UC with seven school and five conference records to his name. He was inducted into Sophos, Sigma Sigma and Metro honoraria, and served as president of Sigma Sigma.

Keating was known to many for his “Thought of the Day” email that he sent out every morning for 16 years.  One message that Szymanski particularly liked summed up the way Keating lived his life and felt about education:  “If you want a degree, go to class. If you want an education, get involved.”