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Leroy Keyes Position: John Purdue Club Assistant Director

Purdue’s “All-Time Greatest Player” Leroy Keyes was named an assistant director of the John Purdue Club in July of 2000.

Previously, Keyes served as administrative assistant with the football program from 1996-2000 and before that coached the running backs for in 1994 and 1995, including All-America fullback Mike Alstott in 1995. Ironically, Alstott broke several of Keyes’ Purdue records and finished as Purdue’s career rushing leader with 3,635 yards.

Keyes was voted Purdue’s All-Time Greatest Football Player in 1987 in commemoration of Purdue’s Football Centennial Anniversary. He was also voted into the National Collegiate Hall of Fame in 1990 and was an inaugural inductee into Purdue’s Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 1994.

A tailback and defensive back, he led the Boilermakers to the 1967 Big Ten Conference championship, was a two-time consensus All-American, 1967 Big Ten Most Valuable Player and runner-up in the 1968 Heisman Trophy balloting. From 1966-68 Purdue established an impressive 25-6 record with Keyes.

Keyes holds several single-season records at Purdue, including rushing touchdowns (14, 1968), rushing average (6.6, 1967), points (114, 1967) and touchdowns (19, 1967). In addition, he has the highest career rushing average (5.97) and his name is etched in the school’s record book for the longest fumble return (95 yards against Notre Dame in 1966). Keyes is Purdue’s seventh-leading career rusher with 2,090 yards and is one of only six Boilermakers to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (1,003 in 1968).

A native of Newport News, Va., Keyes was a first round National Football League draft choice in 1969 and played five years with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. He was a desegregation specialist for the Philadelphia school district for 16 years and has been very involved in civic duties.

Keyes earned his bachelor’s degree from Purdue in 1969.