Mike McKeever
Encyclopedia
Mike McKeever was a guard at the University of Southern California
football team.
honors. He was also chosen to the academic All-America team. Mike and his brother Marlin McKeever
were the first twins to earn All-America status. McKeever suffered a head injury in his senior year at USC and it ended his collegiate football career. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1987.
comedy film The Three Stooges Meet Hercules
playing the Siamese Cyclops twins Ajax and Argo.
Hospital.
While returning from work in October 1965, McKeever was involved in a traffic collision. He suffered extensive head injuries and was in a coma for 22 months before dying at age 27. At the time of his death, McKeever was training for the hammer throw, hoping to make the U.S. Olympic Team.
Daughter Teri McKeever attended USC and competed for the USC swim team. She went on to become the head coach of the University of California and in 2004 became the first female coach of the U.S. Olympic swimming team.
The sons became football players and in 1984 were named winners of scholar-athlete awards of the San Diego chapter of the National Football Foundation. Son Barry McKeever played football (linebacker) for Stanford University
and gained national recognition in 1987 for his public refusal (including an interview on national television) to have his urine tested for drugs on the basis that this humiliating act was a violation of his constitutional rights.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
football team.
College career
McKeever earned All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
honors. He was also chosen to the academic All-America team. Mike and his brother Marlin McKeever
Marlin McKeever
Marlin Thomas McKeever was an American football defensive end, fullback and punter at the University of Southern California and a tight end and linebacker during his 13-year National Football League career. He was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming.-College career:McKeever earned two-time All-America...
were the first twins to earn All-America status. McKeever suffered a head injury in his senior year at USC and it ended his collegiate football career. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1987.
Film career
With his twin brother, he also had a brief career in film, appearing in the 1962 Three StoogesThree Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
comedy film The Three Stooges Meet Hercules
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules was the third feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita . Released by Columbia Pictures, The Three Stooges Meet Hercules was directed by long-time...
playing the Siamese Cyclops twins Ajax and Argo.
Death
After graduation, Mike became general superintendent of a construction company and involved himself heavily in community activities, including Big Brothers, United Way and the City of HopeCity of Hope National Medical Center
City of Hope National Medical Center, is a private, not-for-profit clinical research center, hospital and graduate medical school located in Duarte, California, United States...
Hospital.
While returning from work in October 1965, McKeever was involved in a traffic collision. He suffered extensive head injuries and was in a coma for 22 months before dying at age 27. At the time of his death, McKeever was training for the hammer throw, hoping to make the U.S. Olympic Team.
Personal
Mike was survived by his wife, Judy; a daughter, Teri; and two sons, Mike Jr. (aka "Mac") and John (aka "Barry") who continued the McKeever sports legacy in both swimming and football.Daughter Teri McKeever attended USC and competed for the USC swim team. She went on to become the head coach of the University of California and in 2004 became the first female coach of the U.S. Olympic swimming team.
The sons became football players and in 1984 were named winners of scholar-athlete awards of the San Diego chapter of the National Football Foundation. Son Barry McKeever played football (linebacker) for Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and gained national recognition in 1987 for his public refusal (including an interview on national television) to have his urine tested for drugs on the basis that this humiliating act was a violation of his constitutional rights.