Don Keenan
Painting a subject without their knowing it, a surprise portrait, is always fraught with danger… and in the case of Don Keenan, doubly so. A larger than life character, electrifying, the trial lawyer community with his “Reptile Theory” of practice, a TV personality, renowned children’s advocate, often to be found unshaved wearing shorts, T-shirt, and always those sunglasses. An ex-marine of Irish blood and creator of the Kids Foundation and Bono aficionado. All this and more went into this painting. It was with relief that I saw it was warmly and enthusiastically received at its unveiling in Houston. Kudos to the courage of the man brave enough to commission this painting!
Painting a subject without their knowing it, a surprise portrait, is always fraught with danger… and in the case of Don Keenan, doubly so. A larger than life character, electrifying, the trial lawyer community with his “Reptile Theory” of practice, a TV personality, renowned children’s advocate, often to be found unshaved wearing shorts, T-shirt, and always those sunglasses. An ex-marine of Irish blood and creator of the Kids Foundation and Bono aficionado. All this and more went into this painting. It was with relief that I saw it was warmly and enthusiastically received at its unveiling in Houston. Kudos to the courage of the man brave enough to commission this painting!
Don Keenan
Keenan, Don. 16" x 20". 2015. Collection of Keenan Law Firm. Atlanta, GA. Portrait on canvas. Commissioned by HMR Funding, Dean Chase.
Keenan, Don. 16" x 20". 2015. Collection of Keenan Law Firm. Atlanta, GA. Portrait on canvas. Commissioned by HMR Funding, Dean Chase.
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Enoch "Woody" Woodhouse II
Enoch "Woody" Woodhouse II is a distinguished American figure, known for his service as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II and his accomplished career as a lawyer and public servant. Born on January 14, 1927, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, Woodhouse grew up in a segregated America, facing racial discrimination from an early age. Despite these challenges, he pursued education with determination, graduating from English High School in Boston at the age of 15.
Woodhouse, Enoch "Woody" II. 38" x 38" 2009 Collection of the artist. Montreal, Canada. Portrait on canvas.
At 17, Woodhouse enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and became one of the youngest members of the Tuskegee Airmen—the first all-Black flying unit in the U.S. military. While he trained as a cadet, the war ended before he saw combat. Still, his role as a finance officer in the 332nd Fighter Group at Tuskegee Army Air Field marked him as part of a transformative chapter in military and civil rights history. The Tuskegee Airmen broke barriers of segregation and laid the groundwork for the eventual desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948.
After his military service, Woodhouse earned a degree from Yale University and later graduated from Boston University School of Law. He went on to build a successful legal career, serving as a trial lawyer, U.S. State Department official, and a military court judge. Throughout his life, Woodhouse has been a vocal advocate for civil rights and equal opportunity, frequently speaking about the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and the importance of confronting racism and injustice.Into his late 90s, Woodhouse remains active in public life, often attending commemorative events and inspiring new generations with his story. His life is a testament to courage, service, and the enduring power of perseverance in the face of adversity.