On April 7th the Club’s highest athletic honor, the Veterans Award, will be presented to Fencing Chairman Jack Keane. A former football player, Jack began fencing instruction with Maestro Niederkirchner in 1957. So remarkable was his natural aptitude that he made the finals in the national foil championship in 1958. In 1960 and 1961 he gained the Metropolitan three weapon crown. Then in ’62 he “switched blades,” and specialized in saber. His progress in saber has been meteoric: he ‘was a finalist in the 1964 Olympic Trials ; in ’66 he placed second in the Hungarian Outdoor Championships ; and in ’67 he took the Pan Am gold medal. Jack will be the first fencer ever honored by the Veterans.
“Mr. Niblick” Charlie Comiskey congratulates Jack Keane on winning the Veterans Award as Jack’s son and Veteran’s president Frank Loughrnan look on with evident approval.
( Condon Photo )
On April 7th the Club’s highest athletic honor, the Veterans Award, will be presented to Fencing Chair- man Jack Keane. A former football player, Jack began fencing instruction with Maestro Niederkirchner in 1957. So remarkable was his natural aptitude that he made the finals in the national foil championship in 1958. In 1960 and 1961 he gained the Metropolitan three weapon crown. Then in ’62 he “switched blades,” and specialized in saber. His progress in saber has been meteoric : he ‘was a finalist in the 1964 Olympic Trials ; in ’66 he placed second in the Hungarian Outdoor Championships ; and in ’67 he took the Pan Am gold medal. Jack will be the first fencer ever honored by the Veterans.
VETERANS HONOR KEANE
Veterans president, the redoubtable Frank Loughman, can take a bow for the most successful Veterans Award Dinner in the group’s long history. The evening honored the club’s exceptionally gifted fencing chairman, Jack Keane, who became the first fencer ever to win the club’s highest athletic accolade- the Veterans Award for Progress. Veteran’s V.P. Charlie Comiskey introduced Keane and gave a brief resume of his unique accomplishments. Not only has Jack won numerous national championships and a Pan Am title (1967), but he has done more than any other American (through h is annual Martini & Rossi Tournament) to bring international stars into competition with their U.S. counter parts. Many national fencing stars applauded Jack heartily after he, in a brief acceptance speech, stressed how grateful he was to the NYAC for making his development as a fencer possible and for supporting the International Tournament.
Notables in attendance included Tom Hoyt (who described the event as “one of our wonderful evenings” ) , Harry Lindquist, Jules Soubiran, Jim Farley, Ed Swinburne, Dick Long, Jim Cooke, Joe Moukad, Bill Rose, Charlie Vonhausen, Tom Quinn, Jim Rafferty, Joe McCluskey, Dan Ferris, ‘Bob Rodenkirchen, Msgr. Doersam, Eddie Moclair, and marry others. Club Captain Jim Gilloon, the evening’s principal speaker, justified his reputation as orator and spell binder with a fine speech (cum anecdotes ) on club history.