Roy Keppy of Davenport, IA, a state and national leader in the pork industry for more than 50 years, has died after a nearly 10-year battle with leukemia.

The 82-year-old Scott County pork producer was the friend of farmers and presidents alike. Then Vice President George H.W. Bush announced his candidacy for the presidency from the Keppys' Glendale Farm. Keppy served on President-Elect Ronald Reagan's Transition Task Force. He shared his pork expertise across the country.

Keppy was recently named one of the Top 50 most influential leaders in the pork industry in the 50^th anniversary (May 15, 2005) issue of National Hog Farmer.

He is survived by his wife, Myrtle, and four children.