Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameHarold “Brent” McKnight 
Birth20 Feb 1952, Iredell County, NC
Death27 Nov 2004, Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC
Burial30 Nov 2004, Matthews Historic Cemetery, Matthews, Mecklenburg County, NC
FatherHarold Francis McKnight (1926-2009)
MotherMartha Helms (1926-2016)
Spouses
Birth26 Nov 1961
BurialMatthews Historic Cemetery, Matthews, Mecklenburg County, NC
Marriage4 Nov 1989
ChildrenHarold Brent
Matthew Charles
Samuel Stephen
Notes for Harold “Brent” McKnight
H. Brent McKnight
Judge McKnight, 52, passed away Saturday, November 27, 2004 at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, NC.
Born February 20, 1952 in Iredell County, NC, Judge McKnight was the son of Dr. Harold F. McKnight and Martha Helms McKnight. He grew up in Charlotte and, in his youth, was a member of Christ Lutheran Church where he served as an acolyte and, later, as a liturgical deacon and Sunday School teacher. During those years he spent many happy hours at the Nature Museum and studying the stars. As a teen, this interest led to him be a founding member of the Charlotte Astronomy Club. Later in life his interests included Karate, for which he was awarded the rank of Black Belt and Celtic music, especially the Celtic harp, which he played.
Following graduation from Myers Park High School as Valedictorian in 1970, Judge McKnight furthered his education at UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar, graduating in 1974. He then travelled to England to study at Magdalen College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, also earning a degree in Theology from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He returned to the United States to study law and doctorate level philosophy at UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law in 1980.
Judge McKnight chose to begin his career of service to the state of North Carolina as an Assistant District Attorney for Mecklenburg County in 1982. He was elected a North Carolina District Court Judge in 1988. When he left the state bench to join the federal judiciary as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in 1993, he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the Governor of North Carolina for his service to the state. In August 2003 he received a Presidential appointment as United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina. He was to have been elevated to the position of Chief District Judge in January 2005.
Over the years he served on and chaired numerous committees, including an appointment by Chief Justice Rhenquist in October 2001 to the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules to the Judicial Conference of the United States. He chaired the Subcommittee on Civil Forfeiture and Sealed Settlement Agreements. He was a member of the American Law Institute.
Judge McKnight was a respected legal thinker, writer and public speaker and was often asked to write and speak in his areas of expertise. He had also taught law courses at Wingate University Business School and UNC-Charlotte as well as serving as Judicial Advisor for Legal Services of Southern Piedmont and on the Board of Advisors for Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Judge McKnight will long be remembered as someone who keenly pursued both Justice and Mercy. With a twinkle in his eye and a kind word for all whom he met, he was not given to us for a long enough time. He loves the Lord and his Moral Law. His wife, boys and family were the delight of his life.
Survivors include his wife, Beth Herion McKnight, whom he married November 4, 1989; three sons, H. Brent McKnight, Jr., Matthew Charles McKnight and Samuel Stephen McKnight; his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Harold F. McKnight of Charlotte; and his sister, Dr. (Maj.) Martha Anne McKnight of Dunn, NC.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30 at Christ Covenant Church, 800 Fullwood Lane in Matthews, NC with interment to follow in the Matthews Historical Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 Monday evening at Hankins & amp; Whittington Dilworth Chapel.
Memorials may be made to the Brent McKnight Memorial Fund at Covenant Day School, 800 Fullwood Road, Matthews, North Carolina 28105.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & amp; Whittington Dilworth Chapel, Charlotte, NC.
Salisbury Post, 30 Nov 2004
Judge McKnight, 52, passed away Saturday, November 27, 2004 at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, NC.
Born February 20, 1952 in Iredell County, NC, Judge McKnight was the son of Dr. Harold F. McKnight and Martha Helms McKnight. He grew up in Charlotte and, in his youth, was a member of Christ Lutheran Church where he served as an acolyte and, later, as a liturgical deacon and Sunday School teacher. During those years he spent many happy hours at the Nature Museum and studying the stars. As a teen, this interest led to him be a founding member of the Charlotte Astronomy Club. Later in life his interests included Karate, for which he was awarded the rank of Black Belt and Celtic music, especially the Celtic harp, which he played.
Following graduation from Myers Park High School as Valedictorian in 1970, Judge McKnight furthered his education at UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar, graduating in 1974. He then travelled to England to study at Magdalen College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, also earning a degree in Theology from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He returned to the United States to study law and doctorate level philosophy at UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law in 1980.
Judge McKnight chose to begin his career of service to the state of North Carolina as an Assistant District Attorney for Mecklenburg County in 1982. He was elected a North Carolina District Court Judge in 1988. When he left the state bench to join the federal judiciary as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in 1993, he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the Governor of North Carolina for his service to the state. In August 2003 he received a Presidential appointment as United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina. He was to have been elevated to the position of Chief District Judge in January 2005.
Over the years he served on and chaired numerous committees, including an appointment by Chief Justice Rhenquist in October 2001 to the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules to the Judicial Conference of the United States. He chaired the Subcommittee on Civil Forfeiture and Sealed Settlement Agreements. He was a member of the American Law Institute.
Judge McKnight was a respected legal thinker, writer and public speaker and was often asked to write and speak in his areas of expertise. He had also taught law courses at Wingate University Business School and UNC-Charlotte as well as serving as Judicial Advisor for Legal Services of Southern Piedmont and on the Board of Advisors for Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Judge McKnight will long be remembered as someone who keenly pursued both Justice and Mercy. With a twinkle in his eye and a kind word for all whom he met, he was not given to us for a long enough time. He loves the Lord and his Moral Law. His wife, boys and family were the delight of his life.
Survivors include his wife, Beth Herion McKnight, whom he married November 4, 1989; three sons, H. Brent McKnight, Jr., Matthew Charles McKnight and Samuel Stephen McKnight; his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Harold F. McKnight of Charlotte; and his sister, Dr. (Maj.) Martha Anne McKnight of Dunn, NC.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30 at Christ Covenant Church, 800 Fullwood Lane in Matthews, NC with interment to follow in the Matthews Historical Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 Monday evening at Hankins & amp; Whittington Dilworth Chapel.
Memorials may be made to the Brent McKnight Memorial Fund at Covenant Day School, 800 Fullwood Road, Matthews, North Carolina 28105.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & amp; Whittington Dilworth Chapel, Charlotte, NC.
Salisbury Post, 30 Nov 2004