Hall Of Fame Inductee: James J. Keller
This is the last in a 14-part series that introduces the 14 members of the 2024 UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Class. Their inductions will take place Friday, August 2 (3:30 p.m.) at the Culver Family Welcome Center (625 Pearl Avenue) on the UW-Oshkosh campus. Tickets ($45 each, aged five and older) for this event are open to the public and will be on sale through July 1. Tickets are required to attend and will not be available for purchase at the event. All purchased tickets will be available for pick up at the event. Click here to purchase tickets.
UW-Oshkosh then celebrates 50 years of inductions into its Athletics Hall of Fame during a special event held Saturday, August 3 (3:30 p.m.) at the Oshkosh Convention Center (2 North Main Street). Hall of fame members in attendance will be recognized and receive a variety of commemorative items. The keynote speaker is Iowa State University Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard, a 1999 UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame inductee. Tickets ($45 each, aged five and older) for this event are open to the public and will be on sale through July 1. Tickets are required to attend and will not be available for purchase at the event. All purchased tickets will be available for pick up at the event. Click here to purchase tickets.
Inducted into the UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame from the Distinguished Service Category, James J. Keller is an esteemed and cherished Fox Valley resident who has contributed significantly to the advancement of the UW-Oshkosh athletics program in a broad spectrum of areas over a long period of time.
Keller's impactful career as an extremely successful business owner and executive has led to an unwavering commitment of nearly 25 years to UW-Oshkosh athletics. His authentic contributions of volunteering at events, serving on committees and providing financial support have helped UW-Oshkosh provide quality experiences to its student-athletes, coaches, athletics administration and fans.
Keller is an owner and chairman of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., in Neenah. The company, which employs several UW-Oshkosh graduates, has 2,200 Associates located in North America and India that provide products and services to commercial businesses and assists them with fulfilling complex state, federal and international safety and compliance regulations. The family business, which has received numerous awards and recognition, was founded in 1953 by Keller's father John J. Keller. James J. Keller along with his brother Bob started the publishing & printing divisions of the company.
Keller is also vice-chairman for the J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc. The foundation supports over 500 non-profit organizations and educational institutions in Wisconsin, especially northeastern Wisconsin, and nationwide that harmonizes with its mission. The foundation has issued over $80 million in grants through the years.
Keller additionally serves as president of the James & Rosanne Keller Family Foundation, Inc. Keller and his family members have received Philanthropy of the Year and countless other awards and recognition for their support of organizations.
In 2004, Keller took a leadership role and provided major funding for the Oshkosh Sports Complex, especially the 9,800-seat football and soccer field which is appropriately named J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium. He also provided financial support for the remodeling of the baseball facility in 2006 and recently contributed funds to help the venue install lights and a synthetic turf playing surface.
Keller has been a motivational speaker for the UW-Oshkosh football team and several other programs within the school's athletics department the past two decades. He additionally has supplied financial support to numerous UW-Oshkosh programs, including football and its annual golf outing. Keller, an attendee at nearly every home and away UW-Oshkosh football game, was a major sponsor of the Division III Baseball Championship that UW-Oshkosh hosted at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton from 2000-18.
Keller and wife Rosanne, who will be celebrating their 48th wedding anniversary in October, live in Butte des Morts. They are the parents of son Brian and daughter Angela. They also have five grandchildren, including defensive lineman Jimmy Keller on the UW-Oshkosh football team.
Keller is a 42-year United States Coast Guard Licensed Charter Captain. He has fished in walleye and salmon tournaments all over the country for nearly 60 years and has totaled 30-plus awards. Keller and wife Rosanne enjoy cruise ships and have sailed both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the Rhine River in Europe.
Since 2006, Keller and wife Rosanne have traveled annually to Alaska for the International Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Keller sponsors Dallas Seavey, a six-time world champion who won the 2024 event held in March to become the "Greatest Iditarod Musher" of all time.
Keller has co-authored and published two books – The LeRoy Butler Story: From Wheelchair to the Lambeau Leap in 2003 and Born to Mush: Dallas Seavey, Youngest Iditarod® Champion, The Iditarod Journey with Sponsors Jim & Rosanne Keller in 2012.
Keller, a 1966 Neenah High School graduate, earned a graphic arts degree from Madison Area Technical College in 1969 and became certified as a master printer in 1972.
2024 UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Announcements
Wednesday, April 24: Danielle (Rankin) Salm, Whitney (Tyriver) Stenbroten
Thursday, April 25: Leah (Rosenbaum) Cisler, Jordan Timm
Friday, April 26: Tammy (Milz) Baugnet-Heesacker, John LeRoy
Monday, April 29: David Hochtritt, Robin (Schmidt) Schunke
Tuesday, April 30: Phil Devine, Nadine (Pieske) Schuette
Wednesday, May 1: Nick Boehlke, Chad Kopitzke
Thursday, May 2: Pat Cerroni, James J. Keller
The UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1974 to enhance school tradition and give lasting recognition to those student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and friends of the university who distinguished themself at an exemplary level.
Each hall of fame member represents greatness, with their accomplishments built on campus, after graduation or through meritorious efforts that benefit the UW-Oshkosh athletics program.
The first UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held April 28, 1974, at The Pioneer Inn & Marina. The five inductees were Edward Boguski, Edward Hall, Burton Karges, Robert Kolf and Robert Williams.
Four venues have hosted the UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony – The Pioneer Inn & Marina (1974-2001), Hilton Garden Inn Oshkosh (2002), UW-Oshkosh's Reeve Memorial Union (2003-13) and UW-Oshkosh's Culver Family Welcome Center (2014-19, 2021-Present).