Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Barlow Der Mughdechian
Advisor
A former Fresno State football team athletic manager has donated $150,000 to California State University, Fresno.
Fresno State alumnus and retired businessman and farmer Charlie Keyan of Indio, California has established two endowed scholarships, one in the Armenian Studies Program for $100,000 to establish the Charlie Keyan Endowed Scholarship in Armenian Studies. Income from the endowment will be used to provide scholarships for students at Fresno State who enroll in Armenian Studies courses, with preference for freshmen.
At the same time, Mr. Keyan established a second endowed scholarship of $50,000 in the Athletic Department of Fresno State. The income from this endowment will be used for scholarships to student-athletes in the Fresno State football program.
Why make a donation to Fresno State? Mr. Keyan’s goal for most of his adult life has been to help young people who need help to go to college and to complete their education. He had been assisted when he was in college, and now he wants to help others stay in college.
Mr. Keyan chose to give to Fresno State and in particular to the Armenian Studies Program, because he had heard from former classmates and friends how well the Armenian Studies Program has been doing under the leadership of Armenian Studies Program director Dr. Dickran Kouymjian and Barlow Der Mugrdechian. A conversation with old acquaintances and former classmates Berge Bulbulian and Aram Garabedian, led to the generous endowment. In the future Mr. Keyan plans to add more to the existing scholarships and establish a separate endowment to benefit students studying agriculture at Fresno State.
Mr. Keyan has recently made other generous donations to California university Armenian studies programs and Armenian high schools. He hopes that his donations will set an example for others to follow.
Mr. Keyan was born in Fresno to Ohan and Jouhar Keyahian. Ohan Keyahian was a native of Karachor (Kharpert) and Jouhar Keyahian was from Hussenig.
Mr. Keyan graduated from Malaga Grammar School, Fowler High School, and began attending Fresno State in 1944, graduating with a major in history and physical education in 1948. He enjoyed his years at Fresno State, fondly remembering how he enjoyed the social life. Fresno State in 1944 had a student population of less than 1,000 students. It was a small school where everyone knew each other and Mr. Keyan made lots of friends. He worked at the old Hanoian’s market on Railroad Ave., while in high school and college and worked summers in the grape shipping business with Cy Mouradick.
After graduation Mr. Keyan planned to go to Hawaii, where he would have worked importing sunflower seeds, toasted nuts, melons and cantaloupes and exporting pineapples to the mainland. But instead, he went into the liquor business with his brother-in-law in Los Angeles. Later he worked the night-shift, while substitute teaching during the day.
Mr. Keyan also learned the building trade, learning many skills, that would be critical in his future. He began purchasing property in the San Fernando Valley, building duplexes and triplexes, and later built and managed a 50-unit and a 75-unit apartment complex. He later moved to the Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs, and bought, either by himself or with his brother-in-law, some 140 acres of land. He grew grapes on 75 of those acres, shipping and selling his own produce in his own facilities. The vineyard became quite successful.
Later Mr. Keyan began investing in the stock market where he was also very successful. In 1988 he retired.
Mr. Keyan has traveled extensively, visiting every continent. He has traveled on many cruises, and has been to such places as China, Japan, Egypt, India, the European coasts, the Panama Canal, the North Sea, and the coast of Gibraltar.
Perhaps his most memorable journey was taken in 1995 when he visited historic Armenia. There were 10 people in the group, with each person having the opportunity to visit the village or city where their families had once lived. The group traveled more than 2,000 miles in 2 weeks, visiting Aintab, Istanbul, and saw much of historic Armenia. In particular the historic ruins of Ani were a memorable stop.
Mr. Keyan’s family includes two sisters, Rose Kasimian (also his former business partner) and Agnes Margosian of Dinuba, a long-time elementary school teacher who recently retired.