Michael Murray Keyton

In Memoriam: Michael Murray Keyton, the son of Nancy Keyton (Taylor) and Jefferson Davis Keyton, Jr., born on January 5, 1944 in Texarkana, AR and died November 2, 2023 in Aurora, IL. He is survived by his brother, Richard Keyton, wife, Cheryl Clayton, children, Karl Keyton and Aubrey Clayton, daughter-in-law, Melissa Tapper Goldman, and grandchildren, Naftali, Hadas, and Elior Clayton. A memorial will be held at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church in Naperville, IL on December 9, 2023.

Michael was a unique individual who embodied the pursuit of knowledge and a desire to share it with others. His life was defined by scholarly exposition, mostly in mathematics and music, a commitment to integrity, and a drive toward excellence in disparate domains, including professional golf. He accomplished at least three lifetimes' worth and preserved a jocular, witty disposition until the end.

In his youth, Michael showed a talent for both academics and sports, reading at an advanced level and playing on basketball and baseball teams. He sang in the boys' choir and spent all his allowance money on records. He went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in mathematics at Louisiana State University, completing the program in just three years. While at LSU he also participated on the tennis team, played cymbals in the marching band, and wore the costume of the university mascot, Mike the Tiger.

Student movements of the 1960s drew his politics leftward against war and for civil rights, corollary to his axioms about human dignity. He also augmented his studies, earning a master's degree in music from Indiana University.

Searching for employment, he found positions at Slippery Rock University and at LSU New Orleans. He returned to LSU Baton Rouge in 1970 for advanced studies in mathematics, focusing on algebra and number theory under his mentor, Hubert Butts, with whom he shared many rounds of golf. Michael found his frustrations with academia crescendoing along with his golf ability, however, and decided to leave and pursue a career as a pro golfer.

Years of golf virtuosity followed; he became assistant club pro at Texarkana Country Club, set course records, and won tournaments in the area. In 1974, he married his childhood friend Cheryl Clayton, moved to Ft. Worth, and began teaching at Greenhill School, where a passion for pedagogy grew into a dominant theme for his life. In 1977, he joined the math faculty at St. Mark's School of Texas.

On his Apple II computer he developed educational software such as the popular game "Save the !Kung." His record collection full of obscure works grew exponentially; Lutoslawski became a household name on par with Gauss.

Unusual for the era, Michael stayed home with his children, Karl and Aubrey. He enrolled in a PhD program at North Texas State University, writing a dissertation on models of thought. Also, he began a collaboration with the musicologist Nicolas Slonimsky by notifying him of 100+ errors in his reference work, Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. (Slonimsky replied by inviting him to help with the next edition.) He taught at various local colleges, returning to St. Mark's in 1983 as a math teacher and golf coach.

During the next 17 years, he taught beloved classes using a Platonic method, posing questions to provoke student investigations, and he was twice honored with the John H. Murrell Award. He led workshops around the country about teaching geometry using technology, compiling his insights in a book published by Texas Instruments. On road trips he would listen to CDs and explore new golf courses.

At the age of 56, he and Cheryl were happily transposed to Aurora, IL, where Michael joined the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and reprised his roles as math teacher, golf coach, and lecturer on music. He won the Mathematical Association of America's Edyth May Sliffe Award, honoring teachers "who have done outstanding work to motivate students in mathematics." He retired from IMSA in 2014.

Diaskeuast that he was, Michael spent his remaining years focused on writing memoirs, cataloging symphonies, and arranging his voluminous sports memorabilia collection, plus playing golf and visiting grandchildren in Boston. Michael's life was a testament to unbounded curiosity, passion for education, and belief in the transcendent power of great ideas. He will be remembered and profoundly missed. All who knew him must be lucky.

Donations may be made to the Michael Keyton Fund for Mathematicians at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy [designate "Michael Keyton Fund" in the comment box]:

https://www.imsa.edu/giving