Harold Keables enjoyed a remarkable teaching career that spanned 55 years and 3000 miles.  He began teaching at Denver's South High School in 1935, and left Iolani on January 24, 1980.  He was, as he liked to say, as old as the century.  Life magazine named him Teacher of the Year in 1960.  Yale and the University of Colorado awarded him honorary degrees.  Time called him "brimful of a passion to teach."

The most significant accolades, however, came from his students.  Not only did they dominate national writing contests, but they also paid Mr. Keables the compliment of practicing the lessons he taught them.  He said he would teach "as long as my voice is firm."  Thanks to his students and to the Keables Chair, that voice is still firm and will continue to ring in the ears of writers yet unborn.

Mr. Keables was always enamored with the works of William Shakespeare and their portrayals on stage and film.  He cited the distinctive performance of Olivier's Hamlet and mentioned to his classes that at one time he began collecting the Variorum Shakespeare editions. 

A bibliography of Shakespeare-related books has been created from our existing library collection.

In 1976, he published a book of poems that included four sonnets.

View Mr Keables: A Photo Album here.