KEITH ZIEGLER

KEITH ZIEGLER was one of those few quadriplegics who went on to college after sustaining a spinal cord injury in 1960 at the age of twenty-one. Ziegler, another "Cold Warrior" who had earlier been stationed with the Air Force in Morocco, spent the next six months hospitalized in Denver before being transferred to the Long Beach VA. With the help of his parents, Keith returned to his now-modified and wheelchair accessible home in Colorado, and to an uncertain future in higher education. After three years, it became apparent that Ziegler's pursuit of a college English degree was becoming increasingly more difficult. His parents could only do so much, and full-time attendant care for a quadriplegic student on his own was way beyond his financial means.
In 1965, Ziegler read an ad in the Paraplegia News about this place in Mexico ...From page 165 Keith Ziegler became one of the Mexico Chapter PVA's most dedicated workers. His service to his fellow paralyzed vets and to the community spanned two decades. In addition to being Mexico PVA's president a half dozen times, Ziegler volunteered to be chapter Service Officer, took a few turns as Sombrero News editor, represented the chapter at the national organization of the Paralyzed Veterans of America's annual convention, and kept tabs on the PVA Clubhouse (among other things --- like being a husband and father of two growing girls). Keith contributed much to my efforts in writing QUADALAJARA --- The Utopia That Once Was by supplying old documents and photos, as well as, the valuable information he provided in his interviews. In addition to losing a friend and former co-worker when Keith passed away this May, I selfishly felt cheated since his passing was only days after the book's long-delayed release. Rest in Peace, KZ