Sam Fore Keach inducted into Friends of The Daily Texan Hall of Fame

AUSTIN – A delegation of South Texas Press Association members joined family, friends and colleagues of the late Sam Fore Keach as he was inducted into the Friends of the Daily Texan Hall of Fame April 8.
The induction ceremonies were part of the annual awards program and dinner held on the campus of The University of Texas. The awards are sponsored annually by the Friends of The Daily Texan, a nonprofit group established in 2013 to support journalistic quality and a strong future in a digital world for The Daily Texan, student newspaper at the University of Texas at Austin.
A former managing editor of the Daily Texan during his college days at UT, Keach was among ten honorees inducted this year.
Mary Judson gave remarks at the presentation, paying tribute to Keach’s integrity as a newsman, his love for UT and his contributions and mentorship through his years of involvement with STPA, serving as president and as historian for many years. Keach’s widow Vicki accepted the award on behalf of the family, who all attended the ceremonies.
The Friends of the Daily Texan Hall of Fame biography of Keach - written by Griff Singer, retired UT professor who chairs the Friends of the Daily Texan  Hall of Fame selection committee, reads:
“The World has had its heroes, heralded and unheralded:
David vs. Goliath.
Superman vs. Lex Luthor.
Batman vs. The Joker.
Sam Keach vs. Frank C. Erwin Jr.
Sam who?
Yes, Sam Fore Keach, better known as an exemplary community newspaper editor and publisher in Robstown, Nueces County, near Corpus Christi.
Sam, who died on April 24, 2020, literally grew up in the family newspaper business, starting as a ‘printer’s devil’ and photographer at age 12. And he made a lasting mark as a Texan managing editor in the 1960s.
After graduating from Robstown High School, he made his way to The University of Texas at Austin. He quickly made his talents known on The Daily Texan staff while earning his degree in journalism.
He worked on sports at The Texan, covering some of Darrell K. Royal’s greatest moments with the Longhorns on the gridiron and in the locker room. Funny, Sam has a son named Darrell.
But that was not enough. Sam made his way to the non-political top of The Texan and was appointed managing editor. In that role, he soon found out how much responsibility it entailed. A big-shoulders’ job for someone still not legally an adult.
It comes as no surprise to many that The Texan editorials (and even news coverage) rankled Frank C. Erwin, a regent who considered himself the final word on all things UT Austin — policy, business, curriculum, sports — you name it.
In 1966, the bellicose Erwin became so angry that he ordered the UT Austin Accounting Office to stop issuance of paychecks to the entire Texan student staff, primarily because of critical editorials.
(If such a tactic sounds familiar, that’s what Gov. Greg Abbott did to the staffs of Texas legislators, regardless of party affiliation, with a line-item veto after Democrat representatives broke quorum during the waning days of the 2021 Legislature. Their action thwarted passage of Republican-sponsored bills to revise state voting laws.)
As the Erwin-Keach story goes, Keach spent many days working through channels to get the checks released. Nothing worked.
So the kid from South Texas decided to make one last stand on behalf of his fellow Texan staffers: Meet Erwin head on.
Keach attempted to make an appointment with Erwin. No luck, Erwin’s secretary told Sam his calendar was full. Sam would not be deterred.
Keach decided to go directly to Erwin’s downtown office. Sam walked in and asked if Erwin was there. The secretary said he was, but he did not have time to see Sam.
Sam said he would wait. And wait, and wait he did.
Realizing Sam was not leaving, Erwin’s secretary got him in to see the man who drove an orange Cadillac.
Sam, recounted the story:
“Look, Mr. Erwin. You are upset over the critical editorials. I get that. But those of us on the news staff have no say, nothing to do with those editorials.
“You are penalizing all of us. To you, those little checks may not mean much. To us, it means paying rent and buying food. We need that money now.”
Erwin relented.
The next day, checks arrived at the Texan office. Sam stood down Frank Erwin.
At 21 with his BJ in hand, Keach was named managing editor of The Edinburg Daily Review. Then he returned to the family’s Robstown newspaper in 1967. He was one of four generations of his family to serve as president of the South Texas Press Association. He authored the book “A Family Affair – the First 75 years of the South Texas Press Association,” published in 2002. He served as the association’s historian until his death.
His community service included scoutmaster of Robstown’s Boy Scout Troop 184, where both of Vicki’s and his sons earned the Eagle Scout Award. In 1983, he was scoutmaster of the South Texas troop to the World Jamboree in Canada. He was Wood Badge trained, a vigil member of the Order of the Arrow and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award.
He also served on the boards of Nueces County Memorial Hospital, Northwest Regional Hospital, Robstown Area Historical Museum, Robstown Economic Development Commission and the Bank of Robstown.
He was also a driving force in the development of the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds.
The Nueces County Keach Family Library was named in honor of him and his family’s 80 years in journalism, informing the public, and encouraging the continuation of education of youth in the area.”
Other Hall of Fame honorees were Martin Crutsinger, Dave McNeely, John Moore, Krissah Thompson and John Reetz.