Friends of former Clark College President Robert “Bob” Kennedy Knight say he dedicated his life to serving his community and country. He died early Saturday morning at age 67.
Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle said her friendship with Knight dates to the early 2000s through his work with Clark College and the Rotary Club of Vancouver.
“His military career here in Vancouver was exceptional,” McEnerny-Ogle said. “And then, as a community member, he volunteered so much for so many things.”
Knight served with the U.S. Army for about 20 years. His active-duty military career ended in Vancouver, where he served as a lieutenant colonel and final commander of Vancouver Barracks from 1997 to 2000. In 2000, Knight deactivated the barracks and allowed the Reserves to take it, according to Columbian archives. A few months later, he retired from the Army.
“When he retired in 2000, he wanted to stay here,” said Larry J. Smith, a longtime friend of Knight’s. “He met a lot of different folks throughout the community, and this became what he wanted to call home.”
Smith retired from the Vancouver Barracks in 1991. Years later, he met Knight when Knight became the barracks commander. Through the years, they worked closely together in the community.
“He was just a wonderful guy, great personality and a treasure for this community,” Smith said.
Elson Strahan said he met Knight in 1997 shortly after Knight was appointed final commander for Vancouver Barracks. Strahan was then president of the Clark College Foundation.
“I admired Bob’s ability to maintain an incomparable network of friends, including regularly connecting with his fellow West Point graduates,” Strahan said. “I also appreciated how much Bob contributed to this community during his service as post commander through his tenure as Clark College president, as well as his many volunteer commitments.”
Both were active with the Rotarians, Strahan said, and Knight was an adviser when Strahan became president and CEO of The Historic Trust.
In 2004, Knight joined Clark College’s staff as the vice president of administrative services. When the board of trustees asked Knight to serve a 30-day stint as temporary president, he said yes, according to Columbian archives. The temporary appointment became permanent. He was named president in 2006 and retired at the end of the 2018-19 school year.
During his time as the college’s leader, Knight oversaw major achievements, including the openings of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math building and Veterans Resource Center (now the Veterans Center of Excellence) and one of the largest enrollment spurts in Washington for a community college, according to the college.
In 2016, Knight received the First Citizen award for his long list of community contributions, according to Columbian archives.
“He was very sensitive about making sure that people were taken care of, whether they’re homeless people or whether they’re veterans and so forth,” Smith said. “He had strong values of love for his country and love for his community.”
Columbian archives list just some of the service opportunities Knight participated in, including the Rotary Club of Vancouver, the local chapter of the American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington, the Columbia River Economic Development Council, Fort Vancouver National Trust, Washington State University Vancouver Advisory Council and Workforce Southwest Washington.
“All of us who had the good fortune to know Bob also enjoyed his good humor, while proudly wearing his kilt, surprising someone with his fake teeth or simply making himself the brunt of a joke. Bob was loyal to the core, exceedingly generous, and absolutely dedicated to (his wife) Paula and their family,” Strahan said.
McEnerny-Ogle also remembers Knight for his sense of humor “and just the wonderful way he made people feel.”
“It was nothing for him to come up and shake your hand, give you a hug, a big smile,” she said.
She said Knight’s family values soared with his love for his wife, children and grandchildren.
“It was such a shock to see Bob’s health deteriorate so quickly and know that the doctors couldn’t figure out what it was. Even though they (later) identified it as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a nervous system disease), there was nothing they could do,” McEnerny-Ogle said. “It was so difficult for all of us to say our goodbyes, but we hope Paula and the children know that their father, her husband, was such a wonderful person, and we thank them for sharing him with us.”
