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Aloha to the “General” Les Keiter
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A day after Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas passes, a local and national broadcaster joins him in the broadcast booth in the sky. Les Keiter, nicknamed the “General”, died today at the age of 89.
Similar to Kalas, Keiter started his broadcast career in Hawaii after World War II. He quickly gained national prominence in the 1950’s and ‘60’s in Philadelphia broadcasting the Big 5 college basketball games, then in New York calling the New York football and baseball Giants.
He also broadcasted some 20-odd championship boxing fights which included Cassius Clay, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, and Floyd Patterson.
In 1970 he moved back to Hawaii and became the voice of the minor league baseball team the Hawaii Islanders and working as the sports director for KHON Channel 2. It was during his time with t.v news that anchor Joe Moore coined the nickname “General” after a character Keiter played in an episode of “Hawaii 5-0”.
Keiter is one of the last old school broadcasters who mastered the art of recreating games, something he did in New York and continued on with the Islanders. Armed with only the scoresheet of the game and a wooden block to simulate the sound of the bat hitting the ball, Les created an entire 9 innings and made it seem like you were listening to it live.
What may be his greatest legacy could also be something that is known by only a few. Keiter started the Stadium Stars program while working at Aloha Stadium after retiring from t.v. The program allows for people, fans, or aspiring broadcasters to do play-by-play or color commentary for high school games with complete video crew, floor director, the works. The program still runs strong today and parents and players can purchase the videos.
Les Keiter’s mind was always sharp although his health began to diminish over the past decade. But as recent as last year, while on a radio interview, the voice was still strong, the memories were still vivid, and he could still recreate a Giants baseball game with Willie Mays hauling in a deep fly in left center, then gunning down the runner at home.
And it was like you were listening to it live.
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