St. Joseph-Ogden Hall of Fame: Greg Knott ‘has been a servant to the school and the community’

Editor’s Note: The SJO Daily will highlight the 2021 St. Joseph-Ogden Hall of Fame Inductees this week. Gary Garrison, Greg Knott, Amy Scharlau Lewis and Ron White were selected to be honored. Inductees will be honored at the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football game on August 27. 

By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

Greg Knott’s reach extends far beyond any specific group or organization in the St. Joseph and Ogden communities.

As a youth, he grew up in the Scouting program, earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

As a student at SJ-O, Knott was involved in athletics.

In the years that followed – as he earned degrees from three colleges – Knott has actively worked to preserve the history of his hometown communities, both in words and pictures.

He has also served on the Champaign County Farm Bureau, Visit Champaign County, the Parkland College Foundation and the Prairielands Council Boy Scouts of America.

He was a member of the Champaign County Board for more than a decade and currently serves as the secretary of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and secretary of the UI. He is the ninth person to fill those roles at the UI.

When the St. Joseph-Ogden Hall of Fame committee was evaluating candidates for its Class of 2020 – its eighth class of inductees – Knott’s credentials were impeccable.

He will be one of four inductees on Oct. 2, prior to the Spartans’ scheduled homecoming football game against Prairie Central.

Other upcoming inductees are Gary Garrison, Amy Scharlau Lewis and Ron White.

Former Spartan softball coach Randy Wolken – the winningest softball coach in state history – said Knott’s recognition is well-deserved.

“A jack of all trades,” Wolken said. “He is a SJ-O historian, active in Boy Scouts and organizes the flags at cemeteries.

“He is one of the biggest reasons the softball field is named after me. He’s the one who proposed it to the board.”

A 1984 SJ-O graduate, Knott was a football letter winner and President of the Letterman’s Club as a high school senior.

A lineman, Knott was on the 1983 Spartan team which snapped an 18-game losing streak in football by beating Tuscola.

Thanks to Wolken, Knott played a role in two other sports in which he never participated.

Knott was a manager for Wolken in both boys’ basketball and softball.

“I had him in class,” Knott said. “We got to talking and it turned out he needed help.

“I didn’t have skills on the court, but everything he needed were things I wanted to do.

“I researched school records and helped him run practices.”

It wasn’t a one-sided relationship.

“I learned a lot from him and the things I learned as manager help me today, coordinating people and putting things together,” Knott said. “As secretary (of the Board of Trustees), I have to do prep work in advance.

“It was the same in basketball. I’d have the equipment ready. I learned to tape ankles and made sure the (score)books were ready and the stats updated.

“It was no different, in some ways, what I did then and now. You have to be thorough and try to think ahead. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I used what I learned in every job that I’ve had.”

Wolken said he appreciated the manner in which Knott went about his duties while serving as manager.

“He was very efficient and spoiled me,” Wolken said. “I liked his accuracy, and he was particular about everything being just right. He was a behind the scenes kind of person.”

Even now, Knott likes not being in the spotlight.

“I don’t care if anybody remembers me,” Knott said. “It’s how others have benefitted from what I have worked on.

“I’m not one to sit around and not be involved. I’ve always been a doer. My obligation is to do it or improve it.

“It’s about service to others. The ability to do it, improving the community, is rewarding.”

His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

Kent Brown, who works for the University of Illinois, moved to St. Joseph in 2000 and quickly learned about Knott’s impact.

“He plays a major role and is able to have a voice in the community and in the area,” Brown said. “I love the fact that he has taken on a big role with the historical records of St. Joseph.

“He’s always in the driver’s seat. We need more people like him.”

Brown said it’s impossible to downplay the value in the historical work – and the Facebook page – done by Knott.

“He has played a critical role that for generations to come, there will be a resource to go to,” Brown said. “I’ve watched him in awe for the amount of time and leadership he has shown.

“With his leadership in scouting, he has truly been a positive influence on a lot of young men growing up.”

St. Joseph resident Keith Sjuts said Knott possesses traits that make him easily likeable.

“He is genuine, humble, well-respected and loved by everyone,” Sjuts said. “He’s a quiet leader who doesn’t speak a lot, but when he speaks, he says the right things.

“He has been a servant to the school and the community forever and he’s still doing things. He’s a pillar in the community and the county. He’s an All-American guy.”

Another passion for Knott is photography, an interest he developed in high school while taking pictures for the school yearbook.

“Photography is an opportunity to be involved with an event and be part of the action, even if on the sidelines,” Knott said. “It gave me a different perspective.”

Knott and his family live on a 20-acre farm south of St. Joseph, on land that has been in the family since 1837.

Knott is appreciative of the honor SJ-O will bestow upon him in October, though he said, “I never saw it coming. I was really surprised.”

His induction won’t give him bragging rights in the family, however. Knott’s wife, Brooke, is in her high school Hall of Fame (at Edwards County), where she was a star volleyball player.

“Now I’m equal to her,” Greg Knott said.

The couple has two children, Riley and Hayden, both of whom are upcoming seniors. Riley is at the UI and Hayden is at SJ-O.

Like her dad, Riley Knott is also a Parkland College graduate. When she gets her degree from the UI, she will have two diplomas with her dad’s signature.

Greg Knott was one of the people who signed diplomas for Parkland in 2019 and now, in his role at the UI, is one of four people whose names will appear on those diplomas.

His legacy is not one which will soon be forgotten, either by those who possess diplomas with his name or those who live in the community where Greg Knott was raised and still calls home.

He is still adding to that legacy. When he eventually retires from the University of Illinois, Knott won’t be seeking the comfort of an easy chair.

“I’ll find other ways to volunteer,” he said.