Lloyd Keller – Builder
Lloyd Keller has been involved in the sport of Judo for more than 30 years beginning as a competitor and moving up to coach, co-ordinate, manager, instruct and ultimately become the administrator of the Prince Albert Judo Club.
Lloyd was born in Kipling, Sask. on November 5, 1938 and when he was 26 years old he joined the Swift Current Judo Club. The following year he gained his Yellow Belt promotion and was also relocated to Prince Albert where he continued his association with the sport and became very involved in the local judo scene. In just three short years he became a First Degree Black Belt and has since advanced to a Third Degree Black Belt, but he has contributed much more to the sport than just an accumulation of belt colors.
Lloyd has attained his provincial “A” and national “C” referee’s certifications which has enabled him to attend numerous championships across the country on behalf of both Judo Saskatchewan and the Prince Albert Judo Club. Lloyd has also attended various workshops and coaches retreats so that he can better instruct the students at his home club.
From 1972 to 1998, Lloyd was a member of Judo Saskatchewan as either a coach or a manager and during that time he travelled to Halifax, St. John’s, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Lethbridge, Calgary and Winnipeg for national events. Also during this period, Lloyd was the secretary for Judo Saskatchewan for four years and has been a member of the provincial grading board for that entire time frame.
When the chief instructor’s position with the Prince Albert Judo Club was vacated in 1995, Lloyd was the only person considered to assume the responsibilities. He had been the assistant instructor since 1969 and was involved in all of the organization’s planning and development.
Lloyd continues to be very involved in the sport of Judo and is a co-chairman for the event when it will be staged at the 1999 Western Canada Summer Games in Prince Albert.
The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame is proud to welcome Lloyd into the builder category of the local shrine. His involvement and dedication to the sport has made Prince Albert a hotbed for judo competitions.
Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
