Palestine High School Alumni Association

William McMillan Knowles Jr 1960 Valedictorian Born 02-10-1942 Died 10-23-2007 Age 65

02 / 10 / 1942  –  10 / 23 / 2007

William McMillan Knowles died October 23, 2007 in Palestine after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Bill was born February 10, 1942, in Palestine. He was Valedictorian of Palestine High School and a National Merit Finalist. He went on to attend the London School of Economics and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston. He worked as a pilot for the State of Texas and a flight instructor while attending the University of Houston.

William served in the United States Army in Vietnam. He was the top graduate in the Army Medical Field Service School. He received the Bronze Star Medal while serving as Captain and Company Commander in Vietnam.

After his service in the U.S. Army, Bill worked as a ski patrolman in Steamboat Springs, Colo. and in the Securite des Pistes in Courcheval, France. He was a certified Avalanche Control expert with the U.S. Forest Service.

Bill was the past Chairman of the Board of the former First National Bank of Palestine, past president of the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce, past chairman of the Palestine YMCA, past chairman of Palestine Regional Medical Center, and Councilor of the Texas A and M Research Foundation.

Bill also served on the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Advisory Board as its chairman, 2000 and 2007, in addition to serving on the board from 1991 to 2007. Bill was currently working as a financial advisor at A.G. Edwards in Palestine.

Bill loved flying; he had more than 8,900 hours of flight time. In addition, he was an A and P mechanic. He was a boat builder and sailor, a diver, a marathon runner. A grateful lover of life, he was always interested in learning new things and meeting new people.

William was preceded in death by his father, William McMillan “Mack” Knowles; mother, Jean Dilley Knowles; and brother, David Dilley Knowles.

Bill is survived by his wife of 35 years, Mary Lindsay Knowles; sons, Capt. Ian Lindsay Knowles U.S.M.C. and wife Sonia Travi Knowles, Midshipman Alexander Daniel Knowles U.S.M.M.A. and fiancé, Jennifer Young; as well as many friends, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, October 26, 2007 at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Palestine with interment at the East Hill Cemetery.

The family will be receiving visitors after the service at their home.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Palestine, Pancreatic cancer research or to the charity of your choice.

Source: Palestine Herald-Press 10-26-2007

Services for William McMillan Knowles, 65, Palestine, are scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at St. Phillips Episcopal Church, Palestine.

Burial will be in East Hill Cemetery under direction of Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home, Palestine.

Mr. Knowles died October 23, 2007, in Palestine.

He was born February 10, 1942, in Palestine to the late William McMillan “Mack” and Jean Dilley Knowles. He graduated as valedictorian from Palestine High School and was a National Merit Finalist. He attended the London School of Economics and graduated Magna cum Laude from University of Houston.

He was a pilot for the state of Texas and a flight instructor while attending University of Houston. He served in the Army in Vietnam, receiving a Bronze Star. He also was a ski patrolman in Steamboat Springs, Colo., and in the Securite des Pistes in Courcheval, France, and a certified avalanche control expert with the U.S. Forest Service.

He was past chairman of former First National Bank, Palestine, past president, Palestine Chamber of Commerce, past chairman, Palestine YMCA, past chairman, Palestine Regional Hospital, councilor of Texas A&M Research Foundation, and served on Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Advisory Board. He was currently a financial advisor at A.G. Edwards in Palestine.

He was preceded in death by brother, David Dilley Knowles.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Mary Lindsay Knowles; sons, Marine Corps Capt. Ian Lindsay Knowles, and Midshipman Alexander Daniel Knowles; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family will receive friends following services at their home.

If desired, memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society of Palestine; or charity of choice.

Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph 10-25-2007

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