Durkee Award: Keck collects MTA's highest honor
Pub Date: 10/1/2005
By Paul F. Vang
The Durkee Award, the Montana Tavern Association s highest honor, was presented at last month's MTA convention to a past MTA president and board chairman, Darrell Keck, of Shelby.
Keck and his wife Jeannie own and operate the Dixie Inn, a landmark Shelby bar and restaurant. They ve owned the business since 1985.
Over the years Darrell and Jeannie have been active in the Shelby community, and Darrell has been extremely active in the Montana Tavern Association, as well as the Toole County association.
He's also served as a board member for the MTA's national counterpart, the American Beverage Licensees. Darrell and Jeannie Keck and the Dixie Inn were featured in the November 2004 issue of Tavern Times.
Though Keck knew he had been nominated for the award, he said, in a phone interview after the convention, I was pretty excited and surprised to receive the award.
Noting that he s the eighth person to win the award, he says, It s the most prestigious award I could ever win, and it s one of my most prized possessions. I have it hanging in a prominent spot in our business I m looking at it right now.
It s humbling, he continued, to be judged worthy of this honor by your peers. I ve worked hard for this organization for many years, so it s a wonderful gift.
Among Keck s many accomplishments, the Durkee Award Committee, comprised of the active past presidents of the Montana Tavern Association, recognized Keck s work at many levels, including the Toole County Tavern Association, where he was instrumental in establishing college scholarships for county high school students, the Shelby food bank, and the National Rifle Association, where he worked to establish a local NRA Youth Shooting Award.
The nomination noted Keck is an active Mason who has also been successful in fund-raising for Shrine Hospitals. He has been an effective advocate for the hospitality industry and is recognized by state legislators and Montana s Congressional delegation as a person of integrity and intellect.
In addition to holding offices in local, state and national associations, Keck often acts as a mentor to newer colleagues in the industry.
Keck pointed out that a lot of the credit goes to Jeannie. There s no one in this industry who can do it all alone. Jeannie understands the importance of our associations and supports me, and keeps the business going while I m off at meetings.
Darrell and Jeannie have five children, two still at home, and Keck acknowledges the importance of their support, as well.
I ve missed a lot of things in their lives because I ve been away from home going to meetings, attending hearings or testifying at the legislature. I often feel bad about being gone so much, but they understand that it puts food in their mouths, so they have always supported my work for our associations."
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Oct. 2005, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.