Robert Keating

2022 Distinguished Alumni

Economics '72

Robert Keating was born in Oklahoma City in 1949 and later moved with his mother and two siblings to the southwestern-Oklahoma town of Mangum. On his first day of fifth grade at Magnum’s elementary school he met classmate Sharon Bryan, whom he would later marry. The couple now have two children — both OSU grads — and three grandchildren. 

 

Along with sports and leadership, Robert learned to play the piano as a youth, which led to him becoming the keyboardist for a local rock band, The Changing Times. Three other members of the band enrolled at OSU at the same time as Robert and they all pledged Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Robert became president of the “Fiji House” in 1971. 

 

Robert was an OSU Top Ten Freshmen and graduated with a bachelor’s in economics in 1972. He later earned a master’s in economics from OU and was hired by his father to work at Topographic Engineering Company, an oilfield services company headquartered in Oklahoma City. He was named president in 1990, growing the company to more than 300 employees and 50 million dollars in annual sales. He now serves as chairman of the board. 

 

Robert is the author of two books — with plans for a third — and continues to perform with his band. He is currently a member of the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees. In 2019, Robert and Sharon were inducted into OSU’s Proud and Immortal Society for their record of giving to OSU.