Former Reclamation Commissioner John W. Keys III's private plane crashed in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Utah, on Friday, May 30. Both he and an unidentified passenger died in the crash.

Commissioner Bob Johnson informed Reclamation employees of the tragedy on Monday morning. “It is difficult to find the right words to convey the sense of loss that I know we all feel,” Johnson said. “John was part of Reclamation for nearly 40 years. He retired from Reclamation only to return to be commissioner for five more years. He believed in Reclamation and its mission. He believed in what he called ‘Reclamation people,’ and ‘Reclamation people’ believed in him. He remembered everybody's name, as well as the names of spouses and children. He would even remember your grandmother's name if you told him. In short, he cared about people and people cared about him.”

Keys announced his retirement from the Bureau of Reclamation in April 2006. His own comments at the time best illustrate his love of Reclamation and his dedication to helping others.

“It has been my absolute pleasure to serve as your commissioner of Reclamation for the last five years,” he said. “While I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Bureau and being part of Secretary Norton’s excellent Interior team, the time has arrived for me to retire again. It is time for me to return to Utah, fire up my trusty airplane, and be a good grandpa to our three grand children. I also want to get back to flying for the charter service that I worked with before, re-up as a volunteer in Arches National Park, return to flying for Angel Flight, and catch a few more C.A.S.T. [Catch a Special Thrill for Kids] events.”

Keys was a board member for the Canyonlands Friends group, a long-term volunteer at the park and was running for county commissioner at the time of his death.  As commissioner, he was a strong supporter of Reclamation’s partnership with the C.A.S.T. for Kids program, which provided a day of fishing to disabled and disadvantaged children.

Johnson said he had stayed in touch with Keys and often consulted with him on major decisions. He joined the Reclamation family in expressing his sorrow and condolences to Keys’ family and asked all Reclamation employees to keep them in their prayers and thoughts.

"On Saturday I talked to John's wife Dell," Johnson said. "I expressed our collective and sincere condolences. She understood the importance of the Reclamation family to John and appreciates our thoughts and prayers. Let us remember Dell and her daughters Cathy and Robyn — as well as John's mother in the coming days and weeks."

Keys’ Background

President George W. Bush appointed Keys as Reclamation’s commissioner in early summer 2001. Prior to his appointment, Keys had more than 34 years of agency experience.

“John brings a reputation of integrity and outstanding expertise in developing coalitions and consensus in resolving water challenges,” said Interior Secretary Gale Norton, when Keys became commissioner.

Before returning to Reclamation, Keys spent much of this time flying his aircraft for humanitarian efforts and was formerly the Pacific Northwest regional director.

Working in that capacity from 1986-1998, Keys managed 24 irrigation projects, 61 major dams, 11 hydroelectric plants and other facilities in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and portions of Montana and Wyoming. He developed coalitions that improved management of the Columbia River Basin. In doing so, he worked closely with the Idaho Legislature, irrigation districts, and other federal agencies to meet Endangered Species Act water requirements for salmon in the Columbia River system, bull trout in Idaho, snails in the Snake River and others.

Likewise, he helped to work out solutions among Yakima River Basin water interests, including fisheries, tribes and farmers. The Department of Interior awarded Keys its highest honor – the Distinguished Service Award – in 1995 for maintaining open lines of communication and keeping interest groups focused on solutions.

Keys began with Reclamation as a civil and hydraulic engineer in Utah, North Dakota, Montana and Colorado from 1964 to 1989. He served as chief of the Colorado River Water Quality Office in Denver from 1976 to1979 and worked in Washington, D.C., as assistant to the regional director in 1979 and 1980.

A graduate of Sheffield High School in Sheffield, Ala., Keys received a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech in 1964 and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Brigham Young University in 1971.