General Charles Keller was born in Rochester, N.Y., on February 13, 1868. He was appointed to the U.S.M.A. from New York and graduated with honors in 1890. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. He served in that Corps with distinction until retired at his own request October 13, 1923.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honor for his services in World War I. In World War II he returned to active duty and served as District Engineer of the U.S. Engineer Office in Chicago, IL., from November 1940 to October 1943. During this time, in addition to the normal duties of the office, he supervised and was responsible for the construction of camps, airfields, ordnance and airplane manufacturing plants and other military establishments involving the expenditure of over $300,000,000.00. He also purchased about $2,000,000,000.00 worth of war materials and equipment for the Army Engineers. For this service he was awarded the Legion of Merit. He was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
During his assignment from 1905 to 1910 as District Engineer of the Lake Survey, among other accomplishments, a submerged wire sweep was developed which since has been used everywhere for large hydrographic surveys. It is still the most accurate method of locating obstructions to navigation. During this same assignment, he was detailed as technical advisor to a Board appointed to recommend policies to be followed for the preservation of Niagara Falls. The work done in this connection under Gen. Keller’s direction led to the adoption of policies which have since been followed and which have resulted in restoration of the scenic beauty of the Falls on the U.S., side of the Niagara River.
From 1910 to 1913 he was District Engineer of the U.S. Engineer Office at Rock Island, Illinois. At the same time he was a member of a Board created by Congress to develop plans for improved types of tow boats and barges to increase the efficiency of freight carrying on rivers and canals. The plans developed by the Board were adopted and have proved successful, especially on such streams as the Illinois, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
From 1913 to 1916, he was District Engineer in the U.S. Engineer Office at Mobile, Alabama. The work in the District included certain seacoast defenses. An experimental emplacement was designed and built which successfully withstood bombardment by the heaviest battleship guns from two known ranges. This design was later used in the Panama defenses.
In 1916 he was assigned as Assistant to the Chief of Engineers In Washington, D. C., and continued in that office until early September, 1918. During this tour, he organized the Power Administration which later became a section of the War Industries Board. The Power Administration did an effective job in ameliorating power shortages for war industries. It also developed a system of annual reports on power facilities available throughout the country which proved of real value during World War II.
Early in 1918 he was promoted to Brigadier General and later in that year he went to France as Deputy Chief Engineer of the A.E.F.
Upon return to the U.S. he was detailed as Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia having charge of all public works of the District. During this tour, the Knickerbocker Theatre collapsed with a serious loss of life. Gen. Keller took charge of the rescue operations and later effected changes in the building regulations designed to prevent such accidents.
Upon retirement in 1923 he associated himself with a large electric holding company system with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. He started as principal assistant to the Vice President in charge of engineering. Later he became a director in the holding company and President of one of its operating subsidiaries. He held these positions until he retired a short time before his death.
Because of his wisdom and patience, as well as his outstanding ability, he was very much admired and beloved by the younger officers in the Corps. His English was so clear and simple that his reports on the many projects he handled are of such value that they are still read and quoted by many of his successors. He was a man of outstanding character and intelligence, and his friendship was highly valued by those who were privileged to know him.
General Keller died in Coronado, California on September 16, 1949. He is survived by his wife and two sons. His second son, Charles Jr., graduated from the U.S. Military Academy into the Corps of Engineers in 1930. His grandson, Richard B. Keller, will graduate from the U.S. Military Academy in June 1950, just sixty years after General Keller graduated.
Mrs. Keller is now living in New Orleans, Louisiana.
—William Kelly, Class of 1899