Changes

A long-time investigative [[journalist]], Keith traveled to thirty-five countries in the pursuit of his writings. His work as a reporter for ''The Shreveport Times'' in [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], during the late 1970s. This position provided the experience and material for his 2009 book, ''The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death,''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Commissioner-Story-Deceit-Dishonor-Death/dp/1589806557|title=The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death|publisher=amazon.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009}}</ref> a study of Shreveport Public Safety Commissioner George Wendell D'Artois, Jr. (1925–1977), who held office from 1962 to 1976 under the city commission form of government, which was disbanded in 1978. Keith also examines the [[assassination]] in 1976 of the Shreveport advertising executive Jim Leslie. D'Artois was implicated in the still unresolved Leslie case but died before he could stand trial.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=NvpN1t9TMrgC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=George+Wendell+D'Artois&source=bl&ots=FLoGsv9uIL&sig=M4vFHkw4ijLolZvKDlHRFDjmACg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=w0-XU5b6FuqH8AHr-YCoCQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=George%20Wendell%20D'Artois&f=false|author=Bill Keith|title=The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death|publisher=Pelican Publishing Company|location=Gretna, [[Louisiana]]|year=2009|ISBN 9781-58980-655-9|accessdate=June 10, 2014}}</ref>

A long-time investigative [[journalist]], Keith traveled to thirty-five countries in the pursuit of his writings. His work as a reporter for ''The Shreveport Times'' in [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], during the late 1970s. This position provided the experience and material for his 2009 book, ''The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death,''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Commissioner-Story-Deceit-Dishonor-Death/dp/1589806557|title=The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death|publisher=amazon.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009}}</ref> a study of Shreveport Public Safety Commissioner George Wendell D'Artois, Jr. (1925–1977), who held office from 1962 to 1976 under the city commission form of government, which was disbanded in 1978. Keith also examines the [[assassination]] in 1976 of the Shreveport advertising executive Jim Leslie. D'Artois was implicated in the still unresolved Leslie case but died before he could stand trial.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=NvpN1t9TMrgC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=George+Wendell+D'Artois&source=bl&ots=FLoGsv9uIL&sig=M4vFHkw4ijLolZvKDlHRFDjmACg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=w0-XU5b6FuqH8AHr-YCoCQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=George%20Wendell%20D'Artois&f=false|author=Bill Keith|title=The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death|publisher=Pelican Publishing Company|location=Gretna, [[Louisiana]]|year=2009|ISBN 9781-58980-655-9|accessdate=June 10, 2014}}</ref>

While in Shreveport, Keith served as city editor of the defunct ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' last owned by [[Charles T. Beaird]]. ''The Journal'' was the afternoon rival [[newspaper]] to the existing ''The Shreveport Times,'' a morning publication. At ''The Journal,'' Keith joined then reporter Craig Flournoy in a sensational investigation of the office of Webster Parish [[Sheriff]] Oscar Henry "O.H." Haynes, Jr. (1920-1996), and the police department in Springhill for corrupt practices. The reporters alleged that the two departments had covered up cases of [[prostitution]], ticket-fixing, stolen bond money, and [[narcotics]] violations. Investigations by chief criminal sheriff's deputy Thomas Cameron Bloxom, Jr. (1930-2014), and Mayor M. A. Gleason, Jr., of Springhill uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing. Haynes rose from his hospital bed in Shreveport, where he was undergoing treatment for bronchitis, to deny all allegations. It was noted that ''The Shreveport Times'' was, meanwhile, preparing a story on the lower crime rate in Webster Parish compared to other nearby locations.<ref>"Sheriff Haynes answers charges of corruption", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 6, 1977, pp. 1, 8A.</ref>  The investigations ultimately cleared Haynes. State Attorney General [[William J. Guste]] returned no [[indictment]] in the case.<ref>"Guste returns no indictment in Springhill case," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 25, 1977, p. 1.</ref>​

While in Shreveport, Keith served as city editor of the defunct ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' last owned by [[Charles T. Beaird]]. ''The Journal'' was the afternoon rival [[newspaper]] to the existing ''The Shreveport Times,'' a morning publication. At ''The Journal,'' Keith joined then reporter John Craig Flournoy in a sensational investigation of the office of Webster Parish [[Sheriff]] Oscar Henry "O.H." Haynes, Jr. (1920-1996), and the police department in Springhill for corrupt practices. The reporters alleged that the two departments had covered up cases of [[prostitution]], ticket-fixing, stolen bond money, and [[narcotics]] violations. Investigations by chief criminal sheriff's deputy Thomas Cameron Bloxom, Jr. (1930-2014), and Mayor M. A. Gleason, Jr., of Springhill uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing. Haynes rose from his hospital bed in Shreveport, where he was undergoing treatment for bronchitis, to deny all allegations. It was noted that ''The Shreveport Times'' was, meanwhile, preparing a story on the lower crime rate in Webster Parish compared to other nearby locations.<ref>"Sheriff Haynes answers charges of corruption", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 6, 1977, pp. 1, 8A.</ref>  The investigations ultimately cleared Haynes. State Attorney General [[William J. Guste]] returned no [[indictment]] in the case.<ref>"Guste returns no indictment in Springhill case," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 25, 1977, p. 1.</ref>​

Keith was a war correspondent in the [[Vietnam War]] and undertook freelance assignments in [[Berlin|West Berlin]], [[Tokyo]], and the [[Philippines]]. He published biographies, medical and inspirational works, and numerous [[magazine]] articles. The Military Chaplains Association in Fort Worth named Keith a lifetime member in honor of  his book, ''Days of Anguish, Days of Hope,'' the story of a [[U.S. Army]] chaplain who spent forty-two months in [[Japan]]ese prisoner of war camps during [[World War II]]. Copies of the book were given to all military chaplains in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billkeithbooks.com/wordsmith/|title=Taken by Surprise|date=October 8, 2009|publisher=billkeithbooks.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009; no longer on-line.}}</ref>​

Keith was a war correspondent in the [[Vietnam War]] and undertook freelance assignments in [[Berlin|West Berlin]], [[Tokyo]], and the [[Philippines]]. He published biographies, medical and inspirational works, and numerous [[magazine]] articles. The Military Chaplains Association in Fort Worth named Keith a lifetime member in honor of  his book, ''Days of Anguish, Days of Hope,'' the story of a [[U.S. Army]] chaplain who spent forty-two months in [[Japan]]ese prisoner of war camps during [[World War II]]. Copies of the book were given to all military chaplains in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billkeithbooks.com/wordsmith/|title=Taken by Surprise|date=October 8, 2009|publisher=billkeithbooks.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009; no longer on-line.}}</ref>​