The following day, the players and fans had intended to do some sightseeing around Hawaii, but instead, were witness to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

[3] Keene, along with future Oregon governor Douglas McKay, who had traveled with the football team, finally arranged passage home for the players on December 19 on an overloaded luxury liner, the SS President Coolidge.

[3] The team arrived in San Francisco on Christmas Day after taking a circuitous route to avoid Japanese submarines.

[4] Following World War II, in 1947, Keene returned to Oregon State to serve as athletic director.

[5] Keene was President of the Pacific Coast Conference Athletics Directors Association and served on the executive committee of the NCAA.