Biography of Keith Dabb
HIS YOUTH
“Keith! You go to the back of the room. The rest of you students take out your math books and turn to page 106.”
I was often sent to the back of the room to work on art projects for the teacher while the rest of the class did 6th grade math. This was great for a 6th grader that loved to draw. But next year in 7th grade I discovered that I didn’t understand math very well because I had missed out on many of the basic principles. I finally made it through high school, even learned some math, but my favorite subject remained art.
COLLEGE AND WORKING AMONG THE NATIVE AMERICANS
From high school I went right into college, taking generals and always an art class, because I enjoyed them. Following my first five quarters of college I went to South Dakota were I lived and worked with the Sioux Indians. I first worked on the Standing Rock Reservation and then the Crow Creek Reservation. I worked with people who had names like: Loves War, Brown Otter, Chief White Buffaloman, and Grandpa Straight Arrow, who taught me a lot about carving and most of the Sioux language I know. After about a year I moved to Montana to work with the Crow Indians. I lived in such places as: Billings, Crow Agency, Pryor, and Lodge Grass. The time I spent among the Indians was a great learning experience!
MORE COLLEGE AND THE NAVY
After my wonderful experience among the Indian people, I decided to return to college. And it wasn’t long after returning that I married the girl down the street. Thus, it became time to decide what I was going to be when I grew up. I thought “I’m not good at math, but I love my art classes, and my dad is a teacher,” so I decided to pursue an art education degree.
Upon graduating I signed a contract to teach art in a Jr. High School. Soon after this I got a letter from my draft board. I decided to join the Navy instead of going into the Army.
The Navy trained me as a ship fitter. I learned welding, pipe fitting, plumbing and also firefighting. Although being in the Navy gave me the opportunity to see many parts of the world, I was mostly stationed in Vietnam. I began my service aboard a destroyer named the USS Somers DDG-34, and the last of my four years were spent aboard the Submarine Tender USS Dixon AS-37.
PROFESSIONAL LIFE, FAMILY, AND ART
Returning home I went right back into teaching. I first went into Jr. High, and then High School, all the while working on developing my art skills right along with the students. Also, during this time, my wife and I raised 6 wonderful children- three boys and three girls. All are married now and doing well! I am also the grandfather of eleven.
After 30 years in education I retired to do what I’ve wanted to do since I was a young boy in the 6th grade - my art!