Carroll F. Knicely

KNICELY, CARROLL F., 77, died Thursday, November 2, 2006 at the T. J. Samson Community Hospital after a lengthy illness. Mr. Knicely was born in Staunton, VA, the son of the late B.C. and Violet Phillips Knicely. He came to Glasgow in 1957 as president, editor and publisher of the Glasgow Daily Times in partnership with his former boss at the Waynesboro News Virginian. He became the owner in 1963. During his days in newspapering, Knicely also owned interests in newspapers in Columbia, Campbellsville, Middlesboro, Hopkinsville, Pineville, Scottsville, and Shepherdsville and owned a printing facility near Louisville. He also had a part ownership of a weekly newspaper in Westmoreland, TN, all under the auspices of Associated Publications. He was a former national president of the Travelers Protective Assn. and served as president of the Kentucky TPA and Post B TPA. A longtime supporter of Western Kentucky University, he served and was elected vice chair of the WKU Board of Regents beginning in 1976. He was instrumental in the success of the university's nationally known journalism department. WKU's economic development program's building on Nashville Road in Bowling Green is named in his honor. He began his career in state government when then Gov. Julian Carroll asked Knicely to serve as commerce commissioner during the final year of Carroll's administration and it was through Knicely's efforts during that year that Kentucky secured the location of the Corvette plant to Bowling Green. He served for Gov. Martha Layne Collins as Secretary of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet after her election in 1983 and later served briefly during the administration of Gov. Wallace Wilkinson. He was instrumental in bringing the Toyota plant to Georgetown. Mr. Knicely was a member of the Glasgow Rotary Club, where he maintained an almost 50-year record of perfect attendance. He served as director, vice president and president of the Glasgow Rotary Club, was a Paul Harris Fellow, and Past District Governor. He served as president of the Glasgow-Barren Co. Chamber of Commerce, was a Mason, Shriner and chaired many local fund drives. He was a member of the Glasgow Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, B.C. Knicely Jr.; a sister, Rosebud Crotts; and two grandchildren, Billy Ray Gaines and January Mannes. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Furr Knicely; two sons, Carroll Knicely Jr. (Sydney) of Glasgow and Daryl Knicely (Lisa) of Richmond, KY; three daughters, Kaye Gaines (William) of St. Petersburg Beach, FL, Brenda Kramer of New Castle, NH, and Beverley White ( Mike) of Glasgow; two brothers, Vic Knicely of Staunton, VA and Larry Knicely of Harrisonburg, VA; four grandchildren, Breanna Knicely, Chance Knicely, Michael Gaines and Brooklynne Donzelli; and three great-grandchildren, Canyon Gaines, Dante Donzelli and Christian Maier. Funeral: 2p.m. Monday at the Glasgow Baptist Church with burial in the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation: 3-8 p.m. Sunday and 8-11 a.m. Monday at the A. F. Crow & Son Funeral Home, and at noon Monday at the Glasgow Baptist Church until time for services. Alternate expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorial contributions to the College Heights Foundation at Western Kentucky University.