.:REBEL MAG:.

 

Keenan Milton (August 4, 1974 - July 4, 2001) was skateboarder from New York City, New York. His sponsors included DVS shoes and Chocolate skateboards. He accidentally drowned at an Independence Day party in 2001. He is probably best remembered for the intro to the video Yeah Right! features a tribute to Milton.

 

Keenan Milton - Appreciating a Lost Friend - Written by Keith Hufnagel

I MET KEENAN WHEN I WAS 13 in New York City. He lived exactly 100 blocks from me. I was on 23rd street in middle class apartments, and Keenan was on 123rd living with his Grandma in the projects. Normally, someone like Keenan and I might never have met, but skateboarding brought us together. We became instant friends, skating all over the city and spending every moment we weren’t in school with each other. Soon other kids came around that we may have never met either if it wasn’t for our common interest. Ben Liversedge and Gino lannucci came into Manhattan from Long Island. Chris and Jones Keeffe, Pete Bici, and Gio Estevez came in from Queens. Mike Hernandez from the Bronx. Alex Corporan from Uptown. All sorts of people that remain friends today came from all over a huge city to skate and grow up together. But when I think about it, it was always me and Keenan.

Everyone had to leave Manhattan to go home at night, and we would stay together. For some reason, lots of us were lucky enough to become professional skateboarders. There’s nothing better than seeing the world and doing what you love with your friends, especially the ones you knew when being a pro was only something you could dream of. Keenan went everywhere you could imagine, blowing people’s minds with his skating, and making them happy with his laughter and smiles. I think everyone that ever came into contact with Keenan would say that he was one of the kindest and happiest people they had ever met. I am so grateful for the time I was able to share with such an amazing person. We pushed and inspired each other growing up, and when we became adults we were so proud and happy for each other. When Keenan died, and the initial shock passed, I thought about his life and all of the amazing things he got to see and do. I thought of all of the people he touched and inspired. I thought about a boy who lost his moth er, had no father, and was just a skinny kid living in the projects of Harlem. And I thought about the amazing talent he had that took him out of there and allowed him to spend a good portion of his life living his childhood dream. I thought about a guy who always lived for the day and always had more fun than anyone else I know. I miss Keenan and I know I will miss him forever. When he died we all lost a great talent and a truly amazing person. I just keep reminding myself not to measure Keenan’s time here in years: I measure it in life. He saw more, did more, skated more, and loved more in 26 years than most will ever do in 80. When it really starts to hurt I try my best to smile or laugh or skate, because I know that’s what Keenan would have done. That’s what he would want for all of us.

Online:
Tribute Site
Youtube Tribute
Keenan Milton Yeah Right (Bonus)
Keenan Milton Yeah Right!

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