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Ex-Jockey Paul Keester Succumbs in California Starred in Saddle at Chicago Tracks As Apprentice in 1934 LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 27. Joseph Paul Keester, prominent ex-jockey who rode under the name of Paul Keester, died at the Birmingham Veterans Hospital here yesterday. His mother was at the bedside when he succumbed. Keester served, with the 563d engineer boat platoon, third engineer special brigade, during the war and will be buried with full military honors. Rosary services will be held at the Elmer Meyer Funeral Home, 5940 Van Nuys Boulevard, Van Nuys, Calif., at 8 p. m. Tuesday. Mass is to be said at the Church of St. Robert Bellarmine, Olive Street, Burkank, at 9 a. m. Wednesday. Graveside services will be conducted at the Veterans Administration Cemetery, West Los Angeles, at 11 a. m. During his riding career, which centered mainly on midwestern tracks, Keester rode 312 winners in 1,418 mounts, was second 276 times, had 175 thirds and won 35,085 in purses. In addition to his mother, he is survived by two sisters. Keester was brought out by the late Clarence Davison, who also developed Eddie Arcaro and other prominent riders. Keester rode his first winner at the old Aurora track on May 2, 1934. Later on that season, he starred at the other Chicagoland tracks and one afternoon at Hawthorne he booted home five winners and then came back the next afternoon to boot home the first four. Later he scored with six winners out of seven mounts at Lincoln Fields. The weight bugaboo cut Weesters career short, but he attempted comebacks several times, being forced to severe reducing to get down to riding weight. Keesters father, who died suddenly in 1934 when his son was at the height of his riding career, was prominent in the boxing world, being Society Kid Hogan of fisitiana. The elder Keester fought such all-time greats as Terrible Terry McGov-ern and Bob Fitzsimmons.
