Sandy Keith

LITTLE ROCK — EVERYBODY in Little Rock knew A.M. (Sandy) Keith. Oh, you may not have shaken his hand or set eyes on him. But you knew him. You knew him the way you know somebody who's always involved, always the subject of conversation. You knew him the way you might know a movie star. By his very presence, Sandy Keith stood out. He had those movie-star good looks and that confident air about him. Dashing is the word that comes most to mind.

You also knew Sandy Keith the way you might know a local character who says the darndest things. And we mean that in the warmest way. We Arkansans love our characters, and we seem to be in short supply of them of late.

Sandy Keith, who passed away last week at the age of 84, was a longtime member of Little Rock's extended family. He was as synonymous with Little Rock in his day as Pat Hays now is with North Little Rock.

Sandy Keith served as mayor of Little Rock at a time when the mayor of Little Rock had less power than the metermaid. Which, come to think, wasn't that long ago. The mayor's job wasn't one; it was a ceremonial post, chosen among clubby city directors. Like boys in the backyard treehouse choosing who'd get to wear the raccoon cap.

Sandy Keith was Mayor Keith for all of six months, before voluntarily giving up the title, but he didn't have to be mayor to stand out in city politics. While serving on Little Rock's board of directors, Sandy Keith had the audacity to put things plain. When he thought the city manager, Carleton McMullin, wasn't doing the job, Director Keith said so. Out loud. Before the press and the people and everybody. He wanted Manager McMullin fired because "he is not concerned with the day-to-day operations of the city." And, added Sandy Keith, "As soon as I can get four votes, it's adioso McMullin."

Ooo-wee. That's spicy. These days, Little Rock city politics is as bland as sugarfree ice cream. Which wouldn't be such a bad thing if city hall was as effective as it is dull. But that's another editorial for another time.

Today, we come to remember Sandy Keith, who served Little Rock and Central Arkansas in so many ways and on so many boards and commissions it makes us tired just thinking about them. An accountant by training, Mr. Keith was also Lieutenant Keith, U.S. Naval Reserve, in the second World War. His background in the navy might explain his ramrodstraight approach.

Sandy Keith was one of those fellas who knew a good thing when he was immersed in it. And he knew Little Rock, his birthplace and hometown. He graduated from Little Rock's Catholic High School and, after studying at the Wharton School in Pennsylvania and serving in the Pacific during the war, he came right back, set up shop and took on challenges.

But of all the Sandy Keith accomplishments and anecdotes, one sticks with us. It was the advice he gave to his grandson last year when Sandy found out he had skin cancer. Related by his daughter Frances Hanafin, the advice appeared in the last few paragraphs of his obituary that ran in last week's paper. We can't think of a better way to end this editorial and remembrance than by re-running it here: In May 2007, Keith learned that he

had melanoma.

That June, before announcing the

news to his family, Keith took his grand

son aside on the shores of the Outer

Banks islands in North Carolina to tell

him three things: " 'One: Always be able to look at

yourself in the mirror. Two: Be good

and do good. Three: Take care of your

mother,' which was me," Hanafin said.

Now that's leaving a legacy.