John W. Keys, III Memorial Scholarship

The John W. Keys, III Memorial Scholarship was established in 1992 as the Bureau of Reclamation Scholarship before being changed in 2008 to honor the late John W. Keys, III. In 1964 John began a career that would span 39 years with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. He served in Utah, North Dakota, Montana and Colorado before settling in Boise for 18 years. In 1998 he retired until President Bush appointed him as the national commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation in Washington, D.C. where he served from 2001 to 2006. John also spent 40 years officiating football and received the Golden Whistle Award in 2005. Flying became his passion in 1993 and he enjoyed 15 years of private and commercial flying. He also enjoyed being a rodeo official, distance running, white water rafting and kayaking, hiking, hunting, and fishing.