[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 61 (Friday, April 30, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4507-S4508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KEN KNIGHT

 Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and pay 
tribute to Kenneth Y. Knight, a fellow Utahan whose selfless 
contributions have benefited many, and whose indelible imprint will be 
felt for many years to come across the great State of Utah.
  Ken Knight is truly a hero to the community of Salt Lake City. His 
selfless acts of kindness along with his unparalleled wisdom have made 
him one of the most respected individuals the State of Utah has had the 
good fortune of calling ``one of its own.''
  Ken is truly a ``man for all seasons.'' He is a devoted husband and 
father, a highly respected businessman, a loyal community servant, and 
a deeply patriotic and religious leader.
  Mr. Knight has had a life full of extraordinary achievement. As a 
youth, he gained the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Rank--an honor he 
continues to hold dear--and was elected student body president at his 
high school. He excelled in academics and athletics as well.
  For the past several years, Ken Knight has distinguished himself in 
business, serving as Vice Chairman of the Board of Sinclair Oil 
Corporation and Little America. He was instrumental in the remarkable 
expansion of Sinclair and Little America, and he has mentored and 
shared his skills with dozens of corporate employees and community 
leaders.
  Mr. Knight's special friend and professional partner R. Earl Holding 
recognized the value of Ken's service when he stated, ``Perhaps the 
biggest challenge I faced with Ken--a challenge in which I failed was 
to keep him to myself. Every organization, every board, and every 
worthwhile charity you can think of, all wanted him to be part of their 
cause. His personal contributions--in time and resources--have been 
profound. He loves the community and the community loves him. And he 
had the admiration and respect of civic and government leaders 
throughout the State of Utah.''
  Many organizations in Utah have benefited from his service and 
involvement including--Intermountain Health Care, the Salt Lake City 
Chamber of Commerce, Brigham Young University, the Salt Lake Convention 
and Visitors Bureau, the Salt Place Advisory Board, the Utah Travel 
Council, LDS Hospital, U.S. West, Utah Economic Development 
Corporation, the LDS Foundation's National Executive Committee for 
Natural Resources, Utah Youth Village, and the Utah Symphony.
  Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints, described Mr. Knight this way: ``The measure of any 
man is his contribution to the society of which he is a part. Using 
that measure, Ken stands very tall. He truly has been a giant in our 
city. He knows the pulse of the community. He measures well before he 
leaps. There is nothing impetuous about him. He is quiet and methodical 
. . . He has been a good friend to each of us. He has been a man of 
singular accomplishment. We are all indebted to him.''
  While serving as Chairman of the Utah Symphony, Mr. Knight was faced 
with a great challenge. ``Ken is the kind of person who relishes a 
challenge and it was in that spirit that he took on the chairmanship of 
the Utah Symphony during its darkest hour, when it

[[Page S4508]]

had virtually depleted its reserves after running deficits for a period 
of several years,'' stated Harris H. Simmons, president and chief 
executive officer for Zions Bancorporation. To secure its future, he 
led legislative efforts and a public referendum to permanently devote 
civic funds for artistic achievement. This action not only saved the 
symphony, but it also widened cultural opportunities in dance, opera, 
theater, and other artistic expressions.
  ``When he was Chairman of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors 
Bureau, he was the champion for expansion of the Salt Palace Convention 
Center, which has had a positive economic impact of hundreds of 
millions of dollars from increased convention and visitor spending,'' 
stated Richard E. Davis, president and CEO of the Bureau.
  While serving the Chamber of Commerce he helped overhaul the Workers 
Compensation Fund in Utah. Fred Ball, who was the Executive Director of 
the Chamber at the time, stated, ``The results of his efforts have now 
made Utah one of the very best States in the Nation for both rates and 
for benefits. Costs and claims were reduced dramatically and all agree 
that without Ken Knight, it would never have happened. Every Utah 
business, large and small, are enjoying the efforts of Ken Knight.''
  Ken and his wife Nancy have raised five wonderful children, all of 
whom are decent, responsible citizens and--like their parents--
achievers. Perhaps the greatest tribute written about Ken comes from 
his daughter Lucy Knight Andre when she wrote: ``My father is often 
honored for his many professional and civic accomplishments. While 
those honors are well-deserved, they do not represent the most 
important and least known side of my father--his complete devotion to 
his family. He adores his children and his grandchildren, and 
everything he has done in his life has been for the ultimate benefit of 
his family . . . He taught us to work hard, laugh often, and never look 
at any problem as insurmountable. He has a great love for his Heavenly 
Father and an absolute commitment to his Church. He taught us by 
example the importance of service to our God and our fellow men. 
Whatever his myriad accomplishments in the community might be, those of 
us in his family have a remarkable legacy of ingenuity, devotion and 
love.''
  These are indeed wonderful words for a truly remarkable man. It is an 
honor for me to call all of his magnificent achievements to the 
attention of the Senate.

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