Graduating UW Senior is the Last Knight

May 4, 2005 -- Like hundreds of other children through the decades, Emily Knight says she was impressed by "the big dinosaur" that stands guard next to the University of Wyoming Geological Museum.

"As a little girl, I'd come to Wyoming with my family, and we'd always make a point to visit the museum," says the senior from Madison, Miss., who graduates this Saturday with a degree in journalism. "I'd see my name on the building, but it didn't mean a lot to me then."

Years later, though, she became aware that the dinosaur was built by her great-grandfather, the legendary geologist Samuel H. "Doc" Knight. Emily and her family understandably were excited when "Doc" was selected as Wyoming's "Citizen of the Century," chosen from among 20th century luminaries in politics, education, sports, business, agriculture and other fields.

Intrigued, she read a book about her famous relative, who began teaching at UW in 1916, became head of the geology department, and later served as the state geologist and curator of the museum. Emily saw a now famous video clip of "Doc" at the blackboard, drawing two perfect circles with colored chalk in each hand to accompany his lectures. He taught an estimated 18,000 students, and the geology building was officially named for him in 1974.

"It (the citizen of the century recognition) was something very important to my family, it made us all very proud," says the popular honor student, who served a year as president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. "It helped shaped who we are."

She made up her mind then that she would attend UW, knowing she would likely be the last of her family with the Knight name to attend the university.

As a freshman, she learned even more about her family's UW heritage, when her residence hall friends kidded her about having the same name as Knight Hall. She learned that Doc's mother, her great-great-grandmother, Emma Howell Knight, for whom the building was named, had been the first dean of women at UW, serving from 1911-1921; Emma's husband, Wilbur Knight, had been UW's first geology professor.

"My experience here has been amazing," Emily reflects about her time at UW. "I wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world. I feel like this is where I was supposed to go. To be able to graduate from here is a great honor for me, and for my family."

Posted on Wednesday, May 04, 2005