HSU Alumnus Donates Road Bikes to Leadership Studies Program

Dr. Kyle Keeter ’81 was traveling from Plano to Alpine on Thursday to participate in a 24-hour bike ride over 383 miles. On his way, he stopped in Abilene to make a generous donation to the HSU Leadership Studies’ Bike Ride Across Texas program.

“I have three loves,” said Dr. Keeter. “Leadership, cycling, and HSU. This is a great way for them to all come together.”

Keeter donated three gently-used bicycles which, when new, cost $3,000 to $4,000 along with a monetary donation to help the program build a new bike trailer. He also contributed bike racks, allowing students to take their bikes home to train over school breaks. He donated several pairs of special biking shoes which clip into the pedals to increase stability and force. He also contributed extra wheels, handlebars, seat stems, brake cables, and water bottle cages.

“This is nice, quality road bike equipment,” said. Dr. Coleman Patterson, Director of the Leadership Studies Program. “All these donations save us from having to go buy them ourselves. Dr. Keeter has been super gracious and helpful to us.”

The donations will be used in the upcoming Hurricane Harvey Relief Ride, and Keeter himself plans to join the students for the first leg of the trip. The ride will consist of seven days of cycling from Jan. 2-11. While this is the program’s sixth ride, it will be a new experience. For the first time, the cyclers will be biking south, beginning in Farwell and ending at Surfside Beach, a ride of over 700 miles.

The Bike Ride Across Texas program is just one aspect of a growing Leadership Studies Program. Other developments include Model United Nations, Leadership in Film, Outdoor Leadership, and trips to New York and Vienna.

To learn more about the Leadership Studies Program’s Bike Ride Across Texas or to donate to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Ride, visit www.bikerideacrosstexas.com.