About Jim Keet

Education

Jim Keet worked his way through Southern Methodist University where he graduated with honors in 1971. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration, majoring in finance and minoring in real estate finance. He was elected student body president of the School of Business.

 

 

Business Experience

In 1975, Keet joined Gerald Hamra to bring Wendy’s Restaurants to Arkansas. During the next eleven years, the company developed, owned and operated twenty-seven Wendy's and Sisters' restaurants in Arkansas and Texas, with more than 1,200 employees. The company received numerous awards from Wendy's International, including the Founders Award as the nations top Wendy's franchise. During that time, Wendy's of Little Rock was recognized by numerous civic organizations for their charitable endeavors.

 

Keet has helped start numerous businesses in the hotel, restaurant, apartment, and real estate development industries creating more than 3,500 jobs.

 

 

Public Service

In 1988, Keet was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and was then elected to the Arkansas State Senate in 1992. During his time in the State House and Senate, Keet worked to increase literacy rates, fight the exploding drug problem and also authored the strongest “two strikes and you’re out” violent offender statute in America.

 

 

Community Involvement

Keet has served on numerous civic and charitable boards and commissions including:

 

  •  Arkansas Children's Hospital
  •  Arkansas Literacy Commission
  •  Arkansas Easter Seals
  •  Arkansas Council on Economic Education
  •  Arkansas for Drug Free Youth Advisory Board member
  •  YMCA board member
  • Arkansas Literacy Councils board member
  • United Negro College Fund Advisory Board member
  • Arkansas Literacy Council, Inc.

 

 

Awards

 

Keet has received various awards and honors including:

 

  • FBI Community Service Award
  • The Arkansas National Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews
  • Outstanding Arkansas fund-raiser Award from the National Association of Fund Raising Executives
  • Outstanding Legislator Award from the Arkansas Education Association.

Keet is the current President of Keet Management Company and JTJ Restaurants in Little Rock.  He is a member of St. Andrew's Church in Little Rock, AR.  He has been married to Margaret Keet for thirty-eight years.  They have four children, Tommy, Chase, Jake and Cassie as well as two grandchildren, Holden Keet and Hawkins Crocker.