Family, friends and community members gathered Monday morning to remember Robert “Bob” Kennedy Knight, former president of Clark College and commander of the U.S. Army’s Vancouver Barracks.
Knight died Dec. 14 at age 67.
“I was a close friend of Bob’s, but that’s not saying anything, because if you met Bob once, you were a close friend,” Elson Strahan, former president of the Clark College Foundation, told the gathering. “Bob had no strangers in his life.”
Strahan was among the hundreds of people who attended the ceremony at the AC Hotel Vancouver Waterfront. They filled every chair in the hotel’s conference room, while others stood and listened from the hallway.
The ceremony began with a sermon from Knight’s pastor followed by military honors. Knight’s wife, Paula, their two sons and their wives and children sat in front, near Knight’s framed photo and burial flag.
Knight served with the 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 the Reserves took over. A few months later, he retired from the Army.
“I was privileged to first get to know Bobby in 1976 as a fellow cadet in Company H-1, the Scarlet Hogs at the United States Military Academy at West Point,” Col. Dave Brown said. “Bobby loved the Army. He loved West Point. He loved his classmates. He loved the Army rugby team, and he loved his company.”
As onlookers shed tears, Brown recalled one of the best moments with Knight before he died. Brown said a few of his company friends gathered in Dallas for the Army vs. North Texas game. Knight had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (or ALS, a nervous system disease). He required a wheelchair and oxygen. But he did whatever it took to get there, Brown said quietly.
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 agreed. The temporary appointment became permanent. He was named president in 2006 and retired at the end of the 2018-19 school year.
His tenure was not without controversy. After Knight retired, an internal investigation concluded that he engaged in inappropriate, discriminatory behavior against women and particularly women of color.
Yet 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.
“Bobby showed us all what it meant to serve, whether it was in uniform as an Army officer for over 21 years, as a college president … shaping our future, as a member of the Vancouver community or as a friend,” Brown said.
In 2016, Knight received the First Citizen award for his long list of community contributions.
“As I reflect back, I’m reminded that Bob sought to serve instead of being served,” Bruce Davidson said.
Davidson met Knight in 1997 through the Rotary Club of Vancouver. Knight also volunteered his time to 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.
Knight’s oldest son, Kyle Knight, said his father would write odes (a short form of poetry) to people and family members who died, so he wanted to do the same.
“The most important mission that he gave me was to be the best damn dad that I could possibly be, an order I’ll follow,” Kyle Knight said. “I’ll answer the call just like my dad, till the day I, too, fall with love in my heart. I bid you farewell in this rhyme. I salute you, Dad, one last time.”