Hybridizer Keith Keppel

Salem, Oregon, USA

Gold Medal awarded 1997

Gold Medal Award to Keith Keppel

By Bennett Jones, Oregon

The gold medal is the highest award of the American Iris Society. It is given in recognition of continuous, dedicated service to the Society. This is certainly an accurate account of Keith's commitment over the past many years.
....Keith became interested in irises in 1953 upon discovering a planting of them in a neighboring garden. Soon afterwards he began to grow them in his garden, with 'Snow Flurry' (Rees '39) among his most notable acquisitions. In 1957, from an ad in a gardening magazine, he learned of the American Iris Society. He promptly sent in his membership fee along with an inquiry, "How do I become a judge?". In due time he learned of and fulfilled those requirements, becoming among the most discerning in that area.
....A graduate of Cal State Polly-Tech College, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and an interest in plant breeding, Keith experienced early success when one of his early introductions, 'Babbling Brook', was awarded the Dykes Medal in 1972. He was the first editor of Flight Lines when that feature was added to the AIS Bulletin, and he served a term as vice president of the Median Iris Society. He was a contributing writer for The World of Irises, and a number of his articles may be found in our AIS Bulletins. He was appointed to a part term on the Board of Directors (1976-1977), then was elected to a full term ending in 1980. In 1982 Keith assumed the editorship of the AIS Bulletin, a position he held for five years, providing some of our most informative publications.
....With a penchant for proofing copy and diagramming pedigrees, Keith served for a number of years on the registration committee assisting Kay Nelson in her position as Registrar and Advertising editor. Upon their marriage in 1992 the office was moved to California and later to Oregon. Following Kay's untimely death in 1994, Keith continued as Registrar, recording registrations and introductions of irises world wide. He is responsible for compiling and publishing the booklet of Registrations and Introductions, and at the end of the decade, the Iris Checklist.
....Keith's other awards include the Foster Memorial Plaque , the highest award of the British Iris Society, the aforementioned Dykes Medal*, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Hybridizer's Medal in 1974. [see article in AIS Bulletin #216, January 1975, pp. 24-25]. Trophies from home and abroad are too numerous to mention, and now, most deservedly, Keith is the recipient of the AISGold Medal .

He also received the Bennett C. Jones Award for Outstanding Median Hybridizing in 2011 from the Median Iris Society. You can see the MIS summary of his contributions here on their website.

* Mr. Keppel won the American Dykes Medal nine times, for: 'Babbling Brook' in 1972, 'Crowned Heads' in 2004, 'Sea Power' in 2006, 'Drama Queen' in 2011, 'Florentine Silk' in 2012, 'Gypsy Lord' in 2015, 'Montmartre' in 2017, 'Haunted Heart' in 2018, and 'Reckless Abandon' in 2021.

List of registrations/introductions:

Arilbred: 'Eye to Eye', 'Jallab', 'Nineveh',

Border Bearded: 'Adolescence', 'Art Glass', 'Boondoggle', 'Costume Jewelry', 'Dance Card', 'Desperado', 'Embroidery', 'Eye Candy', 'Faux Pas', 'Gremlin', 'Hopscotch', 'Imbroglio', 'Low Spirits', 'Mexicali', 'Morning Twilight', 'Peccadillo', 'Petite Ballet', 'Picayune', 'Prediction', 'Rinky-Dink', 'Shenanigan', 'Snazzy', 'Sorbet Swirl', 'Wisecrack',

Intermediate Bearded: 'Anagram', 'Attitude', 'Ballycastle', 'Blank Verse', 'Bonkers', 'Brat', 'Broken Promise', 'Bugaboo', 'Candy Floss', 'Citizens Band', 'Clique', 'Coal Tar', 'Dark Triad', 'Doll', 'Domaine', 'Donegal', 'Dublin', 'Dude', 'Early Edition', 'Flying Circus', 'Fruit Cocktail', 'Galway', 'Garnet Slippers', 'Group Hug', 'Guru', 'Hot Topic', 'Jersey Cream', 'Jump Start', 'Latino', 'Limonada', 'Logo', 'Londonderry', 'Lunar Frost', 'Marsh Mist', 'Masked Bandit', 'Moonglade', 'Nectar', 'Pale Cloud', 'Perfume Shop', 'Persnickety', 'Poor Butterfly', 'Preamble', 'Protocol', 'Pun', 'Redondo', 'Riddle', 'Ruby Slippers', 'Safari Sunrise', 'Sangria', 'Soft Word', 'Solar Gain', 'Spectator', 'Spooky', 'Sunbreak', 'Synergy', 'Tact', 'Tantrum', 'Tomfoolery', 'Triplet', 'Trivia', 'Unbroken Promise', 'Whistle',

Miniature Dwarf Bearded: 'Breivity', 'Decibelle', 'Fission Chips', 'Icon', 'Miniseries', 'Rivulet',

Miniature Tall Bearded: 'Persona'

Species Hybrids:  'Family Crest',

Standard Dwarf Bearded: 'Antics', 'Arson', 'Arvo', 'Birthmark', 'Brass Tacks', 'Bright Child', 'Clockwork', 'Coney Island', 'Dark Design', .Dark Matter', 'Decorum', 'Devil Baby', 'Devil's Night', 'Dollop', 'Easter', 'Fine Print', 'Footnote', 'Gimmick', 'Hoodlum', 'Hushpuppy', 'Impeached', 'Jargon', 'Jive', 'Kitten', 'Lemon Freeze', 'Lingo', 'Minor League', 'Mochaccino', 'Moonbright', 'Music', 'Orange Peel', 'Overcast', 'Prank', 'Prospectus', 'Raspberry Ice', 'Reward', 'Ribbons', 'Ringer', 'Satin Accent', 'Scholar', 'Sharp Wit', 'Shock', 'Slang', 'Small Margin', 'Snickers', 'Spree', 'Spring Fresh', 'Squirt', 'Sweet Baby', 'Tattler', 'Tide Pool', 'Toddler', 'Webmaster', 'Zero',

Tall Bearded (A-F): 'Abstract Art'. 'Actress'. 'Adoregon, 'Adriatic Noble', 'Adriatic Waves', 'Alpenview, 'Another Suggestion', 'Answered Prayers', 'Arctic Chill', 'Aristocracy', 'Armada', 'Arrivederci', 'Art Show', 'Artwork', 'Autumn Leaves', 'Babbling Brook', 'Balderdash', 'Ballyhoo', 'Baltimore', 'Bamboo Shadows', 'Barbados', 'Beguiler', 'Beguine', 'Bel Esprit', Billowing Waves', 'Birthday Girl', 'Black Lipstick', 'Blind Ambition', 'Blowing Kisses', 'Blue Ballet', 'Bodacious', 'Bollywood', 'Bolshoi', 'Bond Girl', 'Boston Cream', 'Bonifay', 'Braggadocio', 'Brass Lamp', 'Brazilian Art', 'Brilliant Idea', 'Broad Shoulders', 'Broadway', 'Broken Dreams', 'Candlegleam', 'Caramba', 'Catch the Fever', 'Casbah', 'Catalyst', 'Celtic Tartan', 'Central Intelligence', 'Champagne Frost', 'Champagne Wishes', 'Change Of Heart', 'Charleston', 'Charmed Circle', 'Charmed Life', 'Cheating Heart', 'Chenille', 'Class Ring', 'Classmate', 'Clean Energy', 'Collusion', 'Color Capers', 'Complicity', 'Confession', 'Confidante', 'Congratulations', 'Cosmic Lady', 'Cosmic Voyage', 'Cotillion Gown', 'Cross Current', 'Crowned Heads', 'Crystal Gazer', 'Dance Recital', 'Dance Step', 'Dancing Days', 'Daredevil', 'Dark Drama', 'Dark Energy', 'Dark Universe', 'Dawn Sky', 'Day Glow', 'Dearie', 'Desert Moth', 'Desert Trails', 'Diplomacy', 'Distant Roads', 'Drama Queen', 'Easter Candy', 'Easter Charm', 'Edwardian Era', 'Emphasis', 'Entrancement', 'Espionage', 'Etiquette', 'Ever After', 'Faint Praise', 'Fancy Dress', 'Fancy Ideas', 'Fancy Woman', 'Faraway Places', 'Fashion Event', 'Fashionably Late', 'Fashion Designer', 'Fiery Temper', 'Film Festival', 'Film Noir', 'Final Offer', 'Fire Danger', 'Firewater', 'Flame Amber''Flamenco', 'Flash Mob', 'Flashpoint', 'Flatlander', 'Flights of Fancy', 'Florentine Silk', 'Florida Orange', 'Focus', 'Fogbound', 'Foggy Dew', 'Foolish Dreamer', 'Foreign Accent', 'Foreign Agent', 'Foreign Legion', 'French Lilacs', 'Friendly Advice', 'Friendly Fire',

Tall Bearded (G-Q): 'Gambling Man', 'Game Changer', 'Game Plan', 'Generosity', 'Gentle Manner', 'Gentle Rain', 'Gentle Reminder', 'Georgia Moon', 'Ghirardelli Square', 'Ghost Writer', 'Gigolo', 'Gitano', 'Goddess', 'Gossamer Veil', 'Grande Noble', 'Gringo', 'Guardian Angel', 'Gypsy Lord', 'Handsome Devil', 'Happenstance', 'Happy Ending, 'Haunted Heart', 'Hearty Burgundy', 'Heathen', 'High Achiever', 'High Desert', 'High Octane', 'Highland Haze', 'Hold the Line', 'House Arrest', 'Humoresque, 'Idle Rich', 'Illuminati', 'Immaculate Heart', 'Imperial Guard', 'In Love Again', 'Ink Blot', 'Inside Track', 'Irish Jig', 'Italian Velvet', 'Jazz Band', 'Jazz Era', 'Jersey Bounce', 'Jitterbug', 'Joviality', 'Jubilance', 'Kind Word', 'Kitty Kay', 'Laredo', 'La Scala' 'Legerdemain', 'Light Show', 'Limerick', 'Local Color', 'Lonely Hearts', 'Lotus Land', 'Love Letters', 'Lovely Dawn', 'Lunar Ring', 'Magic Ring', 'Magic Show', 'Maharishi', 'Major Issue', 'Maraschino', 'Margin Call', 'Maricopa', 'Marital Bliss', 'Marmalade', 'Marrying Kind', 'Master Plan', 'Mendacity', 'Merchant Marine', 'Mercury Rising', 'Meteor', 'Miami Beach', 'Midnight Oil', 'Midnight Passion', 'Mind Reader', 'Mistress', 'Mixed Signals', 'Monsoon Moon', 'Montage' , 'Montmartre', 'Mood Ring', 'Moonglint', 'Moonlit Water', 'Morning Mood', 'Morocco', 'Mulled Wine', 'Musical Chairs', 'Musician', 'Mysterious Ways', 'Naughty Nights', 'Netizen', 'Nevertheless', 'Night Game', Noble Gesture', 'Nouveau Riche', 'Ocean Liner', 'Open Sea', 'Opportunity', 'Opposing Forces', 'Orangerie', 'Oreo', 'Overview', 'Painted Shadows', 'Panjandrum', 'Paris Fashion', 'Parisian Dawn', 'Pastel Patterns', 'Patina', 'Peacekeeper', 'Perfect Gift', 'Performing Arts', 'Phoenix', 'Pink Froth', 'Playing Our Song', 'Plum Loco', 'Poet's Rhyme', 'Polar Seas', 'Polished Manners', 'Popularity', 'Power Struggle', 'Pretty Kitty', 'Prosperity', 'Punkin', 'Quandary', 'Quietude',

Tall Bearded (R-Z): 'Raging Tide', 'Rainbow High', 'Rain Flurry', 'Rainbow Road', 'Raspberry Fudge', 'Reckless Abandon', 'Reckless Child', 'Restless Heart', 'Restless Spirit', 'Revision', 'Ringtone', 'Rio', 'Ripple Effect', 'Roaring Twenties', 'Romanticist', 'Rosarita', 'Rosy Cloud', 'Roundup', 'Royal Academy', 'Royal Heir', 'Royal Majesty', 'Royal Sterling', 'Royalty Remembered', 'Russian Violet', 'Rustler', 'Santana', 'Screen Play', 'Sea Cruise', 'Sea Power', 'Seaport', 'Secret Partner', 'Secret Rites', 'Secret Service', 'Shadowed Light', 'Shandygaff', 'Sharpshooter', 'Shivaree', 'Short Story', 'Shouting Match', 'Showmanship', 'Silk Brocade', 'Silk Road', 'Skyblaze', 'Smart Move', 'Smiling Faces', 'Smoky Dusk', 'Sneezy', 'Snowbelt', 'Snowbrook', 'Social Event', 'Social Graces', 'Socialite', 'Soft Touch', 'Sorbonne', 'Sorceress', 'Space Signal', 'Spendthrift', 'Spirit World', 'Split Ticket', 'Spring Shower', 'Star Fleet', 'Stormscape', 'Storm Track', 'Strawberry Shake', 'Sugar High', 'Summer Shadow', 'Sun Shine In', 'Sunblaze', 'Sundown Glow', 'Sunset Boulevard', 'Suspicion', 'Swedish Lullaby', 'Tamale Time', 'Tangled Web', 'Team Spirit', 'Teamwork', 'Teenybopper', 'Telepathy', 'Theatre', 'Thundercloud', 'Time Alone', 'Tour de France', 'Trade Secret', 'True Colors', 'Tunnel Vision', 'Turkish Tapestry', 'Tuscan Summer', 'Twilight Blaze', 'Undercurrent', 'Underlined' 'Uptown Lady', 'Vaudeville', 'Venetian Glass', 'Venita Faye', 'Versailles', 'Vienna Waltz', 'Villain', 'Vista Point', 'Vivien', 'Volcanic Glow', 'Waterline', 'Waterscape', 'Wealth', 'Wedding Belle', 'Well-To-Do', 'Western Outlaw', 'White Heat', 'Wild Wings', 'Wildest Dreams', 'Winemaster', 'Wintry Sky', 'Wishes Granted', 'Wishful Thinking', 'Woodcraft',