Robert Drake Keith

Robert Drake Keith passed away Friday, March 17 in Oklahoma City after an extended illness at age 87. Drake was born in 1935 to Martin Hubbard Keith and Mable Drake Keith in Breckenridge, Texas, where he spent his childhood years and graduated from Breckenridge High School.

“Bobby Drake” as he was known to friends and family was a gifted athlete. His high school football team earned two Texas State Championships and he was named individually to two Texas All-State high school football teams. An honor student and president of his high school senior class, Bobby Drake accepted a football scholarship to Texas A&M where he earned a degree in Geological Engineering.

While at Texas A&M, Drake was one of the now legendary “Junction Boys” football team of 1954, coached by Paul “Bear” Bryant, that later was the subject of the book by Jim Dent and the 2002 ESPN movie. His senior year, Texas A&M won the 1956 Southwest Conference Championship, defeating Texas University in Austin for the first time. Additionally, in his senior year, he served as unit Commander of his ROTC squadron.

On January 27, 1957, Drake married the love of his life Margaret Ammer from Monahans, Texas -- they celebrated their 66th anniversary this year. While completing his degree, Bobby Drake joined Coach Bryant’s staff at Texas A&M and later followed Coach Bryant to Alabama along with his close friend and Junction teammate Gene Stallings. Drake served as defensive coordinator at Alabama and often spoke of his recruitment of NFL Hall of Fame inductee Lee Roy Jordan. After Alabama defeated Oklahoma in the 1963 Orange Bowl, Bud Wilkinson recruited Drake to join his staff at Oklahoma. Drake was the only man to have coached under both Bear Bryant and Bud Wilkinson.

Drake left coaching to pursue a new career in 1965 when he joined the economic development team of Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company. He had a long career at OG&E serving first as district director in Norman, and later joined the executive team serving as Vice President of Finance. While in Oklahoma, Drake enjoyed volunteering with numerous civic organizations and served as President of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra. As a parent he spent many hours supporting his two sons with Boy Scout Troop 55 and assisted with little league baseball and football.

In 198l, Drake left OG&E to become Executive Vice President of the Trust Department at First National Bank. In 1983 he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, to join Middle South Utilities, currently Entergy, as Vice President of Finance and later Chief Financial Officer. In 1989 he was named President and CEO of Entergy Arkansas and to the Entergy board of directors where he served until retirement in 1999. During his tenure in Little Rock he served on numerous boards: Chairman of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the board of University of Arkansas Medical School and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He was instrumental in starting a foundation for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and served as chair of the Arkansas Symphony Ball and Arkansas Heart Ball.

Drake was named to a team from Entergy to assist with the acquisition of a utility transmission company in Melbourne, Australia where he spent many months in the process of the purchase. Under his leadership Entergy Arkansas was recipient of a Fulbright Trade Award called “Teamwork Arkansas.” After retirement Drake was appointed Chairman of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission by Governor Mike Huckabee and traveled the state recruiting new businesses to the state. He was awarded the honor of being named an Arkansas Traveler, an award presented to those who promote goodwill as an ambassador for the state.

Drake was proud to have served as a Deacon and Elder of the Presbyterian Church, serving in numerous capacities, most recently ---as a Trustee of Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation of Oklahoma City. After moving back to Oklahoma City to be near daughter Karma Robinson and family in 2008, he remained active with the OKC Rotary, Economic Club, Men’s Dinner Club and served as a docent at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Additionally, as a long-time supporter of the arts, Drake and wife Margaret founded and have supported the Keith String Awards competition for over forty years, recognizing deserving young musicians of Oklahoma.

Drake is survived by his wife Margaret Keith of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and children, Drew Keith of Keller, Texas, Carl Keith of Frisco, Texas and Karma Robinson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and their respective spouses Lois, Lisa and Brett. He is also survived by grandchildren Mallory Maberry and husband Greg, Cian Brown and his wife Hannah, Preston Keith and his wife Jennifer Roberts, Claire Davey and husband Conner, Natalie Robinson, Sarah Keith and Bradley Keith. He is also survived by great granddaughter Elise Maberry and expecting great grandson Drake Davey in April, as well as many other Keith nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, March 24th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation, 4400 N. Shartel Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 or the Oklahoma City Philharmonic – Keith Awards, 424 Colcord Drive, Suite B, Oklahoma City, OK 73102