Clifford L. Knight

Clifford L. Knight, beloved father, husband, grandfather, and great grandfather died Sunday, February 25, 2007. Cliff, as he was known by his friends and associates, was born February 11, 1920, in Beaver, OK, to George and Goldie Knight. He was the second eldest in a family of nine children and grew up in the dust bowl and Depression days of the 30's, milking cows for a neighbor after school and helping on the family farm. He entered the military service in 1941 and, after completing basic training on the west coast, attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, OK. He served as an artillery captain in the 84th Infantry in Germany during WWII and was awarded the Bronze Star. After discharge from the army in 1945, Cliff married Sybil Rachal whom he had met while stationed at Camp Claiborne, LA. They settled in OKC where he attended Hill's Business College on the GI Bill. After graduating, he was employed by Drilling Equipment Mfg. Co. (Demco) of OKC where he remained for the next 33 years. During that time, the company grew from a small business with a dozen employees to a highly respected valve manufacturing company employing over 800 with worldwide product markets. He served as president there the last 17 years before his departure in 1980 to develop a new business, The WellMark Company, where he continued to be active until his death. As a younger businessman, Knight was a supporter of numerous civic and charitable organizations and assumed leadership roles in many. He was a campaign chairman and president of the United Way. He was also a board member and president of Junior Achievement, and a member of the boards of Mercy Hospital, Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, and St. Eugene's building committee. Subscribing to the importance of 'giving back' to his community, he continued until his death to be a significant financial supporter of numerous art, civic, and charitable organizations. Knight was also active in several other business and investment enterprises, a very important one being his Hereford ranching business begun in 1965 when he acquired land in Logan County, OK. Under his guidance, K74 Ranch developed one of the top Hereford herds in the country. He was active in the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, and both the Oklahoma Hereford Association and the American Hereford Association of Kansas City, MO, where he served on the board of directors from 1981 to 1987 and as president in 1986 and 1987. He remained a trustee of the Southwest American Livestock Foundation and a director of the Sirloin Club. The family would like to express its gratitude to the many people who shared in the care of Cliff during his illness, especially the Palliative Care Unit of Mercy Hospital, and Mercy Hospice. Clifford Knight's survivors include his wife of 62 years, Sybil; three daughters, Jennifer Robertson and husband Bill, St. Louis, MO, Sherry Knight, Edmond, OK, and Vickie Dennis and husband Joe, OKC; eight grandchildren, Lee Guthrie, Jason Jacobs, Marci Jacobs, Rachal Wilzbacher, Michael Robertson, Brett Robertson, Sherry Dennis, and Chad Dennis; three great grandchildren, Grace Guthrie, John Wes Jacobs, and Harley Jacobs; and two sisters, Wanita Sherrill and Wyona Wilson. Funeral services will be held at St. Eugene's Catholic Church on Wednesday, February 28, at 10am with a reception immediately following at Quail Creek Country Club, Rotunda Room. Cliff's many interests were reflected in the organizations he supported over the years benefiting children's welfare and education, the arts, leadership development, and beautification of the city. Memorial donations made on his behalf to the charity of choice would be greatly appreciated.