It was an unseasonably frigid November day in Texas. My father, Dr. Bill Knight, my oldest brother Matt and myself got into my father’s car and drove two and a half hours to my birthplace, Weatherford, Texas. It was Veterans Day. I was about to see many of my extended family members. Some for the first time in over a decade. Some for the first time ever.

Weatherford College was honoring my Uncle Jack. During his lifetime 1st Lt. Jack Knight had been an outstanding leader. The ‘strawboss’ of a tenant farming family with all of eight siblings. Just one short of a baseball team their father, Roy Sr. once lamented. Jack had taken those tough love leadership skills into his professional life as a soldier during World War II. He rose to command the 124th Cavalry Unit in the Burma Chinese Theater of War in 1944 and ’45. It was one of the last mounted units in the U.S Army. His fair minded toughness and discipline earned him the respect and admiration of his men. His brother, First Sergeant Curtis Knight, was his second in command.

I could see that my father was quite appreciative of this gathering. It is a proud family full of wit, intelligence and work ethic. Having grown up the youngest son, he was now the elder statesman.

He was bemused as he listened to the good-natured quips and jokes the cousins, nieces and nephews were bandying about as we assembled for the ceremony.

A building on the Weatherford College campus was being named after Jack. Both Jack and my father as well as other members of the family had studied and earned degrees there through the years.

The 124th Calvary Regiment was in attendance as well as many veterans and their families.

In spite of the cold and length of the ceremony the family stood throughout his address. Some of Jack’s leadership qualities must have rubbed off on Dr. Bill Knight. For that I am both proud and grateful.

My father begins speaking about 42 minutes into this video of the ceremony.

Thanks to Donna Means for many of these photographs.