[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3676]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING BISHOP JAMES E. McKNIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 9, 2011

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of 
the Third Congressional District of Florida, I rise to recognize and 
wish a Happy Birthday to Bishop James E. McKnight, a man of God and 
leader to the community of Gainesville, FL.
  Bishop James E. McKnight was born March 14, 1930, and is a life-long 
resident of Gainesville, Florida. He has been married to Jessie M. 
McKnight over 56 years with three sons and one daughter.
  As a man for whom education was key, Bishop McKnight graduated from 
Lincoln High School in Gainesville, Florida and attended Florida A & M 
University in Tallahassee, Florida. Bishop McKnight was not only a 
religious and community leader but also a patriot, he joined the U.S. 
Army and received special training in the Intelligence Division while 
serving in the Korean War from 1951-1953. Bishop McKnight has been a 
pastor in the Church of God by Faith for 53 years. He is presiding 
pastor of Gainesville Church of God by Faith in Gainesville, Florida, 
where he and his wife have served as leaders for over 50 years.
  Under his leadership at Gainesville Church of God by Faith, a new 
building was built in 1973, and renovated and expanded in 1990. Bishop 
McKnight is very involved in the community and has served as a Board 
Member of the Eastside Clinic and development projects and the Black on 
Black Crime Task Force for many years. He was instrumental in offering 
their place of worship as a shelter to the residents of the former 
Kennedy Homes Apartment Building, who were displaced by fire in 2003. 
He received an award as a distinguished leader in the Gainesville 
Community in March of 2007. Bishop McKnight is highly respected and 
well known as a ``Praying Man'' in the Gainesville community and 
surrounding areas, and the National Church of God by Faith.

                          ____________________