Mentorship and an open mind are two prominent factors that played a role in Gaither Keener’s progression toward becoming executive vice president, secretary, chief compliance officer and the first in-house counsel of Lowe’s Cos. Inc. After landing a job in retail during his first year out of college, Keener decided to venture into graduate programs, thinking his interests would be better suited in a different field. He kept his options open, with applications to programs in history and seminary studies.
Keener also was interested in law, and he channeled childhood influences such as his favorite TV character, Perry Mason, and family friend Samuel Moose, to narrow his decision toward law. Keener recalled Moose—who went by the nickname “Sub”—as a man full of character, whose distinguished daytime career as an attorney was followed by his nighttime position as a little league baseball coach. These two childhood role models were Keener’s first influences in his later decision to become a lawyer, and it was his admiration of Moose that led him to equate the practice of law with coaching a team.
