ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (July 16, 2008) – Cecil B. Keene Sr. of St. Petersburg, who served for many years as a trustee of St. Petersburg College, died Thursday (July 10) after a long illness.  He was 84.

            Mr. Keene had served as a trustee since 2001. He resigned just a month ago because of ill health.

            “Cecil Keene served the college for many years, both as a staff member and as a trustee,” said SPC President Carl M. Kuttler Jr. “He cared deeply about St. Petersburg College, and he leaves a record of service and caring to which students, faculty and staff will point with great pride for years to come.”

            The Board of Trustees last month honored Mr. Keene as Trustee Emeritus. At its meeting Tuesday, the board observed a moment of silence in his memory.

            A native Floridian, Mr. Keene was born in Clearwater and was a product of the Pinellas County school system. He held a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee Institute – now Tuskegee University – and a Master of Arts degree from Atlanta University. He also studied at Florida A&M University and at the University of Miami.

            He served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army during World War II and saw combat duty in Italy.

            His worked as an instructor at Knoxville Veterans School and Miles College. He served as principal of Pinellas and Gibbs high schools, and was dean of students/admissions at Gibbs Junior College.

            At St. Petersburg College, he was an academic counselor at the Tarpon Springs Center and the Clearwater Campus. He coordinated the TOPS program at Clearwater and served as articulation officer at the District Office and as the director of special projects collegewide.

            He was on the Board of Regents of the Florida University System (1987-1993), appointed by Gov. Bob Martinez. He also served as vice chairman of  FAMU’s Foundation Board, as a member of the Florida Supreme Court Nominating Commission, and as a member of the District Six Grievance Committee of the Florida Bar.

            He was a past president of the Southside Republican Club, the Suncoast Tuskegee Alumni Club and the St. Petersburg Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa.

            He leaves his wife, Bernice and sons, Cecil Keene, Jr, of Antioch, Calif. and Chauncey and Cedric Keene, both of St. Petersburg. He is also survived by his sister, Candice Keene, of Palm Harbor, and three grandchildren.