Les Keiter

Lester Keiter
Born	Template:Birth date Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Died	April 14, 2009(2009-04-14) (aged 89)
Occupation(s)	Sports broadcaster, newscaster, sports director
Years active	1940s–1993
Known for	Sports director at KHON-TV; boxing commentator; radio and TV sports broadcasting

Lester Keiter (April 27, 1919 – April 14, 2009), widely recognized by the nickname the "General", was a distinguished newscaster and sports director at KHON-TV in Honolulu. Throughout his career, he lived and worked in major cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, where he provided commentary for some of boxing’s most memorable matches.

Early career

A native of Seattle and an alumnus of the University of Washington, Keiter launched his broadcasting journey after World War II by announcing games for a minor league baseball team.

During World War II

Keiter joined the Navy in 1942 and served in the Pacific theater with the 93rd Seebee Battalion. Later, he took charge of the Palau Armed Forces Radio Station, where he hosted sports broadcasts that included boxing and baseball coverage. He returned to the United States shortly before the war concluded.

After the war

Throughout the 1960s, Keiter was the voice behind several major boxing matches, most notably Muhammad Ali’s 1964 triumph over Sonny Liston—a fight Keiter regarded as his career highlight. He often collaborated with Howard Cosell on ABC radio broadcasts and also covered the iconic 1980 bout between Duran and Leonard.

From the mid-1950s until 1963, Keiter served as sports director at New York’s WINS-AM, where he hosted pregame and postgame shows for Yankees games and provided play-by-play commentary for the Giants (football), Knicks, and Rangers. His re-creations of San Francisco Giants games between 1958 and 1960 were so realistic that many listeners believed they were hearing live coverage.

In 1963, Keiter relocated to Philadelphia to announce games for the 76ers and Big Five college basketball. His unique catchphrases, including "Welcome to Panicsville, USA," earned him a reputation as a beloved local broadcaster.

Keiter also reported on the 1968 Mexico City Olympics for Mutual Radio alongside Jesse Owens, calling George Foreman’s gold-medal boxing performance.

KHON-TV sports director

In 1970, Keiter moved to Hawaii with his wife, and by 1971 he was appointed sports director at KHON-TV, a role he fulfilled for more than twenty years. During this period, he played a key role in mentoring numerous up-and-coming sportscasters. Ron Mizutani, a fellow KHON sportscaster, credited Keiter with guiding him away from a potential law enforcement career toward sports journalism. Bob Hogue, another colleague, lauded Keiter for having worked with some of the most legendary figures in sports history.

"General" Les Keiter

Keiter made guest appearances portraying a military general in two episodes of Hawaii Five-O. This led KHON-TV news anchor Joe Moore to bestow upon him the nickname "General," which remained his on-air identity until his retirement from KHON in 1993.

Post-KHON work

Following his retirement, Keiter became the official spokesperson for Aloha Stadium and hosted events for the Honolulu Quarterback Club up until late 2008. In his later years, he experienced vision impairment, mobility challenges, and battled dementia prior to his passing.

Death

Lester Keiter passed away on April 14, 2009, surrounded by family members; KHON-TV reported that his death was due to natural causes. On April 21, a canoe ceremony off Waikiki scattered his ashes at sea. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted posthumously into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame on November 22, 2013.

External links

• Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
• https://www.leskeiter.com