EmilyAnn Jackman
pennlive.com
(TNS)
It’s safe to say Toby Keith left an undeniable mark on his family, friends, and those who fiercely loved him.
Months after succumbing to his nearly two-year battle with stomach cancer on Feb. 6, his memory is unmistakably alive and well.
During the University of Oklahoma’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, Krystal Keith, Keith’s daughter, accepted an honorary degree on her father’s behalf.
During her acceptance speech, Keith didn’t hold back when it came to her father, describing how the late country icon, an Oklahoma native, was devoted to the university and its sports teams.
“When he learned last fall that he was being inducted to Sooner Nation on this high of a level, he was so excited, and he was so proud,” Krystal Keith revealed.
“I actually made a joke about how many hours I spent here getting my bachelor’s degree, and he joked that he didn’t have to work that hard to get his. But we all know he earned it and spent many more hours dedicating his life to earning it this way. He loved his family (he loved all of us), God, our country, and Sooner Nation,” she continued.
“His passion started far back before he was 12 and 13. He sold Cokes at the stadium just to be able to see the OU games. He joked that he would sell them for half the game, and then he would go sit and watch the game and sometimes got in trouble for not finishing his job.”
She revealed that the late country legend was so dedicated to the Sooner team that he “broke his ankle playing a celebrity OU Alumni game in the 1990s.
“For as long as I can remember, he took our family to bowl games and was on every sideline or courtside of every OU event that he possibly could, regardless of sport or gender. He wanted to be at all of them. He supported them wholeheartedly. He simply bled Crimson and Cream,” she said.
Another thing Krystal Keith highlighted was her father’s work ethic, which translated well into his music career.
“Throughout his life and career, he made sure to work hard to have the best, to be the best. He often said, ‘They may write better than me, they may sing better than me, and they may look better than me, but they will NEVER outwork me,’” Krystal recalled. “And that made all the difference. He was a larger-than-life legend, he was an icon, he did things his own way, his songs inspired nearly everyone in country music and beyond.”
The country music legend’s daughter also discussed how proud her father was to be an American, something he passed onto his children.
“He always said, ‘Never apologize for being patriotic,’ and practiced what he preached through his work with the USO [United Service Organizations].”
He was also dedicated to performing for the military.
“He was going into the most dangerous zones, where guys that never got those entertainers to come to them, were housed and were sitting, and he would go and boost their morale,” she recalled. “And that’s who he wanted to go see. We called him Captain America. And that’s something he earned.”
Concluding her speech, Krystal Keith said, “My dad taught me everything: singing, writing songs and … most of what I know about life. And I hope the graduates that are here today can learn from him, too. He fought hard to live his dream.”
“He had faith and believed in himself. He never gave up the fight, even when the odds were against him. He would want me to tell you to never give up on yourself. As you start your next journey in life, know that you have strong roots here at the University of Oklahoma. Work hard and be the captain of your own ship. Believe in yourself and live your dream.”
The University of Oklahoma highlighted Keith and three others receiving honorary degrees in an article on the school’s website last month.
Keith’s honorary degree is just one of many honors he has received since his death, including his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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