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Swartley, Keeler Cited at Homecoming

The Alumni Association has honored two of its graduates for their work in reflecting the school’s vision, mission and values.

EMU President Loren Swartzendruber presents Dr. Richard F. Keeler with the traditional gift for distinguished alumni.

Willard M. Swartley, a 1959 EMU graduate presently living in Elkhart, Ind., received EMU’s 2004 "alumnus of the year" during the Sunday, Oct. 10, worship service of homecoming and parents weekend.

The award is given annually to a graduate who has been recognized for significant recent achievements in their profession, community or church.

Dr. Richard F. Keeler, a 1960 EMU graduate who served many years as a public health physician in the eastern Caribbean, received the "distinguished service" award, also during homecoming.

The annual "distinguished service" award seeks to recognize graduates who have demonstrated in notable ways the Christian service and peacemaking emphases of the university.

Willard M. Swartley

Willard M. Swartley

Swartley, a member of the Bible and religion faculty at EMU, 1965-68 and 1971-78, served most recently as dean and professor of New Testament at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart. He was cited for his leadership roles as a pastor, teacher, writer and Bible scholar, "combining courageous academic inquiry with Christian devotion, patient observation with imaginative application and sober discipline with joyful freedom."

The spring semester of 1975, Swartley and his wife Mary led 37 EMU students on EMU's first Middle East cross-cultural study seminar, where they witnesses the raw emotions of the Israeli-Arab-Palestinian conflict. A reunion of those participants was held Saturday evening (Oct. 9) of homecoming weekend.

After completing doctoral studies on the New Testament gospel of Mark, Swartley shared his learnings the summer of 1977 at a churchwide Mennonite assembly in Estes Park, Colo. He presented an intensive seven-part series of Bible studies based on Mark's gospel in tandem with original dramas by Canadian playwright Urie Bender to enthusiastic audiences.

Two years later, Swartley's book, "Mark, the Way for All Nations," was published by Herald Press, Scottdale, Pa., along with Bender's drama in a companion book, "To Walk in the Way."

His next book, published in 1983, grew out of a Conrad Grebel lecture series. Now in its 17th printing, "Slavery, Sabbath, War and Women" (Herald Press) explores opposing interpretations of scripture and demonstrates the use of the Bible to address thorny issues of church and society.

He flew headlong into another controversial topic with the release in 2003 of his book, "Homosexuality: Biblical Interpretation and Moral Discernment" (Herald Press), which has received high praise from reviewers for combining "a high view of Scripture with a penetrating analysis of contemporary culture."

Another book, "Covenant of Peace" (Eerdmans) will be released in the fall of 2005.

Swartley is married to Mary Lapp Swartley, a 1957 EMU alumna. She is a former business teacher and author of the book, "She Has Done a Good Thing: Mennonite Women Tell Their Stories" (Herald Press).

They have two children, Louisa Oyer of Kansas and Kenton Swartley of Iowa.

Dr. Richard F. Keeler

Dr. Richard F. Keeler

Keeler earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia and completed a family practice residency at Norfolk (VA) General Hospital. He then served four years as a health officer in Letcher and Harlan counties in Kentucky.

From there, Keeler spent some 13 years on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, serving under the auspices of Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions. Using education as a primary tool, he developed a broad public health strategy to combat leprosy ("Hansen's disease") on the islands. His success in curing patients led to invitations to advise similar programs on the islands of Guyana, St. Lucia, Jamaica and other eastern Caribbean islands.

Returning stateside, Keeler was an attending physician at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, Fishersville, Va. He sensed a call to return to Trinidad in mission work in 1996. After returning, he was ordained as overseer for Mennonite pastors in Trinidad and Tobago.

If he were starting his medical career today, Keeler said he would choose to work with persons who have HIV/AIDS.

"Like those with Hansen's disease, persons with HIV/AIDS are often scorned and cast aside by society," he said in a recent interview. "They are in much need of compassionate care."

"I am goal-oriented," he stated, "alert for what could cause problems - the preventative approach - and dealing with them before they develop into serious issues."

Keeler's first wife, Martha Risser, died of cancer in 1995. In 1996, he met and later married Margaret Harris, a Trinidadian with a Bible-teaching ministry to women.

Keeler's four daughters - Marybeth Stauffer, Sharon Arbaugh, Miriam Hostetter and Kathryn Morris - all graduated from EMU.

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted October 11, 2004