James M. Keelor passed away on March 13, 2025, at the age of 82.

Keelor built a distinguished career in broadcasting. After graduating from IU, he served as an officer in the U.S. Signal Corps in Vietnam before launching his broadcasting career in 1966. His dedication to local journalism grew as he honed his skills as a producer, news manager, NBC bureau manager, and future executive.

In the mid-1970s, Keelor managed station operations for Liberty Corporation, serving as general manager at WAVE-TV in Louisville, KY, and WDSU-TV in New Orleans, and as vice president of corporate operations. Under his leadership, stations won prestigious awards, including Emmys and a Peabody Award. He oversaw Liberty's expansion to include 15 network-affiliated television stations, a cable advertising sales company, a video production facility, and an equipment distribution company. Keelor held top leadership positions with the National Association of Broadcasters, the Association for Maximum Service Television, the Television Bureau of Advertising, and the Television Operator's Caucus.

Keelor was inducted into the South Carolina Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He also received the first Chuck Sherman Leadership in Television Award from the National Association of Broadcasting and the Radio-Television News Directors Foundation's First Amendment Leadership Award.