IOWA

Keith was born in 1918 at his parent’s farmhouse near Keosauqua, Iowa. He was the first child born to his parents, after one and a half years of marriage. In 1920, his mother and twin sisters died from a difficult childbirth. After the death of his mother, Keith (at the age of two) spent much of his time at his grandfather Strait’s farmhouse — located about two miles west of his father’s house. Keith was raised by his father, aunts, uncles, and grandparents when he was young, but mainly lived with his father as he grew older. His father’s farm was located about four miles north of Keosauqua, Iowa. Keith first attended the “Leech School” near his father’s house, then entered Keosauqua High School in 1932 and graduated in 1937.

Keith was always more interested in technology and science than he was in farming. His father owned the first radio in the county and this sparked his interest in technology at a young age. He received a full scholarship with Chicago Technical College and took drafting and electronics courses by correspondence, plus obtained a First Class Radio telephone License from the FCC. Keith first worked as a projectionist in the local movie theater after graduation from High School. He then worked one year (Sept '39 - Sep '40) in radio service and repair at Fowler Electric in Keosauqua. This was a high technology career path in the 1940’s!

Above: Keith Strait with his mother, Esther. Probably taken at Keith's Great-Grandparents house, Daniel and Mary Reneker. This is the only photo of Keith with his mother (1919).

Above: Keith with (left to right) Aunt Edith Reneker, Aunt Daisy Strait, Uncle Glenn Reneker, Uncle Joshua Jr. "Josh" Reneker, Uncle Clarence Strait, Uncle Paul Reneker, grandfather Joshua Reneker, and his father Roscoe Strait (~1924).

Above: Keith Strait's High School graduation photo (1937)

MINNESOTA & NORTH DAKOTA

In September 1940, Keith began a one-month course on refrigeration at the Gamble Skogmo headquarters (Gamble Stores) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In October, he began working in radio and refrigeration service at the Gamble store in Hutchinson, Minnesota — located about 60 miles west of Minneapolis. Keith did not like this job and moved to Jamestown, North Dakota in December to take a job as an engineer at radio station KRMC. He worked at the small radio transmitter building — located south of town. His main job was radio operator and technician, but was occasionally the late-night radio announcer and janitor. He worked at the station from December 1940 to June 1941. People with technical skills were in high demand, because the workforce was being depleted as men were drafted into military service in anticipation of war. Although he liked his job, he soon found a better opportunity in Wichita, Kansas.

Above: Keith Strait at 7 months at his grandfather Israel Strait's house (1919).

Above: Keith Strait's mother, Esther Reneker, in 1916 at the age of 20. She died November 1, 1920 after giving birth to twin daughters, who also died in childbirth. She was 24 years old.

Above: Keith with his father Roscoe (Ross) Strait (~1924).

Above: Keith Strait at radio station KRMC in Jamestown, North Dakota. He worked as engineer, announcer and janitor. He worked there from December 1940 to June 1941 (March 1941).

KANSAS

Keith arrived in Wichita, Kansas in July 1941 — five months before the US became involved in World War II. He took a government job with the Air Corps (part of the “War Department”) as a Civil Service Employee. He worked at the Boeing Aircraft Plant as a general aircraft “Inspector,” to confirm the aircraft were built as designed. This was the beginning of his long-term career with the Federal government. In January 1942, Keith met Margaret Evans who had just started working as a Civil Service employee at Boeing. He worked at the Boeing Plant until September 1943, when he was drafted into the Army Air Corps (predecessor to the Air Force).

Above: Keith Strait in Wichita, June 1942

WWII - TEXAS, ARIZONA & MARYLAND

Keith took his basic training in Wichita Falls, Texas from October 1943 to February 1944. He then attended “Reserve Officers Training Corps” in Lubbock, Texas from March to April 1944. He transferred to the Yuma Army Airfield base in Arizona for Aircraft Gunnery Training, where he remained until June 1944. He then transferred to the Laredo Army Air Field for his final gunnery training on the B-17 and B-29 aircraft. He completed his training and went on his first furlough to Wichita and Topeka in August 1944, where he and Margaret became engaged. In late August, he was transferred to Biggs Field in El Paso, where he remained until September 1945 — one month after the end of the war. Keith was an “instructor of gunnery during flight” on the B-17, B-24 and B-29 aircraft while he was stationed in El Paso.

Keith and Margaret were married in Topeka, Kansas on July 22, 1945, just weeks before the end of the war. Margaret lived briefly with Keith in El Paso until September 1945. Keith was then transferred to the “Holabird Signal Corps Depot” in Baltimore, Maryland for CIC training (Counter Intelligence Corps). Margaret moved to her parent’s farm in Kansas, since Keith initially had to live in barracks with other soldiers while in Baltimore. Keith soon got his own apartment and Margaret joined him in Baltimore in January, 1946. Keith completed his CIC training and was discharged from the service in April, 1946.

Above: Keith Strait in Lubbock, Texas for officers training, 1944.

Above: Keith Strait's first furlough when Keith and Margaret Evans became engaged (Wichita, August 1944).

Above: Margaret Evans and Keith Strait 1st anniversary wedding photo. They were married in Topeka, Kansas on July 22, 1945.

Above: Keith Strait at Holabird Signal Corps Depot, Baltimore, November 1945

Above: Margaret and Keith Strait at George Washington's home (Mt. Vernon), after Margaret joined Keith in Baltimore, about two months before he was discharged from the military. February 1946.

BACK TO KANSAS

After discharge from the service, Keith and Margaret moved back to Wichita and Keith returned to his Civil Service job in Quality Control for the Air Force at Boeing. His responsibilities included the procurement of various military aircraft such as the PT-17, B-29, B47, B52, etc. Keith worked on the development phase of the X-90, AT-15 and the B-29 aircraft. He spent about one and 1/2 years writing the engineering evaluation report (689 report) that details the differences between the original aircraft design and the actual aircraft as built. Keith signed off on the first flight (form 1) of the first B-29 to fly. He also worked on the B-47 and B-52 programs during development.

He attended many government and industry schools in specialized electronic, radio, statistical analysis and armament. His training also included college classes in law and electrical engineering, with trade classes in machine shop and metal working. All three of his children were born while he lived in Wichita.

Above: Keith, Margaret, Donna, and Brad Strait in Wichita, Late 1951.

COLORADO

In August 1956, Keith transferred to the Martin Marietta Plant in Denver, Colorado. While at Martin, he continued his job in contract administration for the Air Force on Titan missiles and space vehicles. Keith stayed at Martin until his early retirement in July 1970 — at the age of 51.

After retirement, he remained active with world-wide groups gathering solar flare data for the NOAA World Data Center. He developed new technologies to detect solar activity using indirect radio methods. He studied computer languages and bought his first computer in 1979 — years before they became a common household tool. By the time most people bought their first home computer, he had been using one for over a decade. He never stopped learning and his knowledge was broad. Friends, neighbors and his children relied on him to fix cars, electronic equipment, and any manner of mechanical devices. They also depended on him to simply give good advice.

Keith passed away on November 7, 2003 of a brain tumor.

Above: Keith inspects Dave's Teddy Bear on the first Christmas morning they have at their new home in Littleton. December 25 1957.

Above: Keith (age 84) and Margaret Strait (age 81), about 3 months before Keith’s death on November 7, 2003. Photo taken on July 29, 2003