Tom was born July 3, 1931 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

He attended Rankin School and Guilford College.

He married Margaret Taylor McKnight in February 1942 and they had two children.

In World War II, he served in the United States Army with the 29th Division and the 116th Infantry.  He was wounded on the Omaha Beach invasion on D Day.  He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.  He was discharged in September 1945 as Chief Warrant Officer.

After the war, McKnight joined Phipps Hardware.  In 1950, Tom established McKnight Hardware and McKnight Marine in Greensboro, North Carolina.  He served as president and general manager for 33 years.

He served as vice-president of the Greensboro Merchants Association

He served as secretary of the North Central Piedmont Resource Conservation and Development Project of North Carolina.

Tom was a deacon, elder, Sunday School teacher, and leader at Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

Tom was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Summit in 1957 and was club president in 1958-59.  He served as club secretary for 17 years.

Tom served as district governor in 1979-80 and was delegate to the 1982 Council on Legislation.

The Rotary Club of Summit created the Tom McKnight Memorial Scholarship in his honor.

His principal hobby was hunting, fishing, and boating.

He died on December 7, 1984 at the age of 65 and is buried in the Buffalo Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

– PRID Ken Morgan (2017)