Keen was born on a ranch in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma, near the town of Cheyenne. He got his start in wrestling as a middleweight at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University), where he became a national champion. He was undefeated as a collegiate wrestler in weight divisions through the heavyweight class. His wrestling coach at Oklahoma A&M was Edward C. Gallagher. Keen was also a lineman for the Oklahoma A&M football team and a sprinter on the track team. He was named to the 1924 Olympic team but did not compete because of a broken wrist. Keen graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1924.