Gene Graham: Coach Knight left a lasting impression

Palmer Eugene “Gene” Knight, who died last month, touched the lives of many people in this community, including myself.

Knight, a graduate of Erskine College, came to York as a coach at York High School in the 1950s. He later accepted a position as administrator at York Place and served on the York School District Board of Trustees from 1960 to 1980.

He died Nov. 12. He was 92.

His son, Gene Knight Jr., a high school football announcing icon for WRHI Radio in Rock Hill, said his father was always referred to as “coach” Knight by those who knew him, even long after he had left the coaching and teaching profession.

“One of the things he was responsible for beginning, and was most proud of, was the Play for a Child Golf Tournament, which benefited the children at York Place, the Episcopal Church Home for Children,” said Knight Jr.

Knight said the tournament was played annually for more than 30 years at Spring Lake Country Club in York, and was a favorite among golfers in this area and across the state of South Carolina.

Coach Knight was a man of immense character, integrity and swagger, if you will. I got to know him a few weeks after my family moved to York from downtown Atlanta.

I was an eighth-grader at the time. One afternoon, I was in a hurry to get to the York High School main office from the junior high annex and decided to take a short cut across the gym floor.

Suddenly, I heard a voice with the command of a U.S. Marine drill instructor.

“By golly, you better get off the gym floor wearing street shoes young man!” said coach Knight.

“Yes, sir!” I replied in a weak voice.

I reminded coach Knight of my first impressions of him several times over the years and he laughed out loud.

Kenny Hartsoe, a York School District Hall of Fame inductee who played baseball for coach Knight, has fond memories of the community icon and coach.

“Coach Knight was a special person, a super coach who demanded discipline,” said Hartsoe. “He meant what he said and he really cared about young people.

“I paid attention to what he had to say when he spoke to me,” Hartsoe said.

Hartsoe remembers a practice one day after school when Knight’s tolerance level was put to the test.

“Neil Carroll, Wayne Hollis and me were taking infield that day,” Hartsoe said. “All of a sudden, for some reason or another, they yelled to coach Knight, ‘Hey Palmer Eugene, hit me one!’

“Oh, that was a mistake,” said Hartsoe. “He took us to the outfield where the scoreboard was located and made us run from one end to the other. I mean he wore us out.”

Hartsoe added: “I have great memories of coach Knight.”

When I was inducted into the Hall of Fame a few years ago, coach Knight called me the next week and congratulated me.

What a class act. He was indeed a unique individual. Our community and school district are better off because coach Knight blessed us with his presence.

Knight Jr. said one comment regarding his dad’s life came from his mother, Lettie Harper Knight.

She told her son one day, “Gene, you need to be like your daddy and live every day to its fullest.”

“I certainly believe he ascribed to that philosophy,” said Knight Jr. “He got as much out of each day as he possibly could. Believe it or not, he did play in the Safety First golf tournament in October. He made it through 15 holes and made two birdie putts and a par putt to help his team.

He added: “He was truly a coach in the game of life for many of his students as well as the young men and women who were residents at the Episcopal Church Home for Children.”

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 10:06 AM with the headline "Gene Graham: Coach Knight left a lasting impression."