John S. Knight
Encyclopedia
John Shively Knight was an American
newspaper
publisher and editor.
He was born in Bluefield
, West Virginia
to Charles Landon Knight
and Clara Scheifly. He attended Cornell University
but never graduated, leaving early to enlist in the Army
. While at Cornell he was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa
fraternity. However, he later received the degree of "War Alumnus." In 1920 he started at his father's newspaper, The Beacon-Journal
, as sportswriter, and moved up to managing editor before inheriting the paper in 1933. Beginning a nationwide expansion, Knight bought the Miami Herald in 1937. His portfolio included fifteen newspapers by 1973. A year later he merged his company with Ridder Publications to form Knight-Ridder Newspapers Inc
.
His nationwide column, "The Editor's Notebook", won him the 1968 Pulitzer Prize
for editorial writing. In 1969 Knight received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy
Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Colby College
.
He co-founded what would become the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
with his brother James L. Knight
.
John Knight and his wife and Katherine lost two of three three sons at early ages. Lieutenant John S. Knight, Jr. was killed in action
near Münster
, Germany
on March 29, 1945.
Youngest son Frank McLain Knight died at age thirty on March 9, 1958 following emergency brain surgery.
During his retirement, John Knight devoted much of his time to the raising of Thoroughbred
race horses at his Fourth Estate Stable based in Miami, Florida.
Knight died of a heart attack
in Akron, Ohio
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
publisher and editor.
He was born in Bluefield
Bluefield, West Virginia
Bluefield is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 10,447 at the 2010 census. It is also the core city of the Bluefield WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,342.-Geography & Climate:...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
to Charles Landon Knight
Charles Landon Knight
Charles Landon Knight was an American lawyer and newspaper publisher who represented Ohio in the United States House of Representatives from 1921-1923...
and Clara Scheifly. He attended Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
but never graduated, leaving early to enlist in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. While at Cornell he was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa
Phi Sigma Kappa
-Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The...
fraternity. However, he later received the degree of "War Alumnus." In 1920 he started at his father's newspaper, The Beacon-Journal
Akron Beacon Journal
The Akron Beacon Journal is a four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning morning newspaper in Akron, Ohio, United States, and published by Black Press Ltd.. It is the sole daily newspaper in Akron and is distributed throughout Northeast Ohio. The paper places a strong emphasis on local news and business...
, as sportswriter, and moved up to managing editor before inheriting the paper in 1933. Beginning a nationwide expansion, Knight bought the Miami Herald in 1937. His portfolio included fifteen newspapers by 1973. A year later he merged his company with Ridder Publications to form Knight-Ridder Newspapers Inc
Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. Until it was bought by The McClatchy Company on June 27, 2006, it was the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States, with 32 daily newspapers sold.- History :The corporate ancestors of...
.
His nationwide column, "The Editor's Notebook", won him the 1968 Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for editorial writing. In 1969 Knight received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy
Elijah P. Lovejoy
Elijah Parish Lovejoy was an American Presbyterian minister, journalist, newspaper editor and abolitionist. He was murdered by an opposition mob in Alton, Illinois during their attack on his warehouse to destroy his press and abolitionist materials.Lovejoy's father was a Congregational minister...
Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
.
He co-founded what would become the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is an American private, non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts....
with his brother James L. Knight
James L. Knight
James Landon Knight was an American newspaper publisher and founder of the Knight Ridder group of newspapers....
.
John Knight and his wife and Katherine lost two of three three sons at early ages. Lieutenant John S. Knight, Jr. was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
near Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on March 29, 1945.
Youngest son Frank McLain Knight died at age thirty on March 9, 1958 following emergency brain surgery.
During his retirement, John Knight devoted much of his time to the raising of Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
race horses at his Fourth Estate Stable based in Miami, Florida.
Knight died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
.
Dedications
- The John S. Knight Auditorium is a large lecture hall in Leigh Hall, a building on the campus of the University of AkronUniversity of AkronThe University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
. - The John S. Knight Reading Room is located in Bierce Library, a building on the campus of the University of Akron.
- The John S. Knight CenterJohn S. Knight CenterThe John S. Knight Center is a large convocation center located in Akron, Ohio, named after the newspaper publisher and editor John S. Knight....
is a large convocation located in downtown Akron, OhioAkron, OhioAkron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
. - The John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines at Cornell UniversityCornell UniversityCornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.