Frank Gillespie McKnight

Frank Gillespie McKnight passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2011. He was born in El Paso June 28, 1921, the son of Arthur Lanier and Frances Gillespie McKnight. He graduated from Austin High School, attended New Mexico Military Institute and was awarded a BBA degree by the University of Texas at Austin in 1942 where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He entered the United States Army in 1942, serving in England, Germany and Norway and was released in 1946 in the grade of Major. He was associated with Anderson, Clayton and Co., an international cotton firm, from 1947 until 1969, serving in Abilene, Texas, the company headquarters in Houston and completing his service as manager of the El Paso District with cotton gins and oil-seed crushing mills extending from eastern Arizona to Pecos Texas. In 1967 he was elected President of the Western Cotton Shippers Association and served as a Director of the American Cotton Shippers Association. In 1969 he received a Presidential appointment in the United States Department of Agriculture, where he served as the Department’s Associate General Sales Manager and later as the Secretary of the Commodity Credit Corporation, returning to El Paso in 1977. He was a member of Saint Francis on the Hills Anglican Church and served as a vestryman of the Church of Heavenly Rest, Abilene, Texas, Saint John’s Church, McLean, Virginia and the Church of Saint Clement, El Paso. He served as a director of the El Paso Housing Authority and vice President of the El Paso Museum of Art Association and also as President of several organizations, including: the El Paso Tennis Club, El Paso County General Assistance Agency, El Paso County Historical Society, Friends of the El Paso Museum of Art, Caballeros Men's Club and the Del Norte Chapter of the U.S. Cavalry Association. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sara Stevens McKnight, daughters Nancy McKnight Howell and husband, John of El Paso, Elizabeth McKnight Manning and husband, Terry of Austin, Texas and son, Steven Lanier McKnight of Dallas, Texas and nine grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Francis on the Hill Anglican Church at 4:00 pm, Thursday, April 28, 2011. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net