Director of the Hall of Fame from 1952 to 1963, Keener started as a copyboy with the St. Louis Star in 1902. He saw his first byline with the St. Louis Times in 1907. After a year in Chicago, he returned to the Times as assistant sports editor and succeeded Harry Neily as sports editor in 1914. He rejoined the Star in 1929 and continued as sports editor when the Star and Times merged.
