Keith was Social Director of the Men's Union Board, Student Council President, Intra Fraternity Council Publicity Director, and President of the Delta Chi Fraternity. Those primary positions lead him to the Athletic Board, and representation for the student body on various academic councils, and honorary societies.
After graduating from WMU, Keith went to Notre Dame Law School for one term, and decided to return to his hometown of Berkley, Mich., to get an MBA from the University of Detroit. He worked as a substitute teacher in two school districts and went to school at night, earning his MBA in 1966.
“My first full time job was as an Accounts Payable clerk in Chevrolet Central Office in Detroit. I was hired effective June 1, 1965. Margo and I were married on June 20, 1965—Father's Day Sunday— in Kalamazoo, one week after she graduated,” Keith recounted. “Our first child, Rick, was born in May, 1967. Jennifer, our second child was born in August, 1970. Margo became a Secondary Education teacher in English in the Auburn Heights (Michigan) school district following her graduation.”
During his 33 years of full-time employment at General Motors, Keith worked in 24 different accounting/finance positions. Since retiring in 1998, Keith has worked as a part time consultant for GM.
Over the last ten years, the LaGores have set up two scholarships at WMU and one with the Delta Chi chapter at WMU. Today, they reflect on the ways WMU had an impact on their lives and careers, including preparation for life in general.
“Looking back, we both learned so much more than simple professional backgrounds in our academic study,” said Keith. “We built a good life together with the entirety of the experiences we had at WMU. When we were students, WMU was there for us—we as students just needed to take advantage of all it offered.”
The LaGores would like to give current students the same educational opportunities they had while attending WMU.
“College has gotten significantly more expensive since we were in attendance and our scholarships may offer a little financial help to current students in the areas Margo and I were and are interested in, leadership and English,” Keith explained. “This lets us, as WMU graduates, 'pay a little forward' for the young people who are currently students or will be students at WMU. Someone was there for us when we arrived at WMU as freshman. Let us be there for them so that WMU continues to excel and expand the learning opportunities for the generations of students to come. “
Additionally, the LaGores want others like them to consider "paying it forward.”
“We simply want to encourage other WMU graduates to recall the better memories of their experiences as WMU students and be grateful that WMU was there for them in their formative years. Hopefully those memories will encourage them to give something back to the University that prepared them for the lives they are living,“ said Keith.
“There were people who came before us who made WMU what it was when we were there as students. As a result of the years that we spent at WMU, we were well prepared for life when we left WMU.”