A Son's Ideals Live On Through Parent's Devotion

By Mitch Traphagen  (mitch@observernews.net)

RUSKIN - The worst thing that can happen to a parent is to outlive your child. It doesn't seem natural and the death of a child is difficult, if not impossible, to accept. For most parents, their hopes and dreams have come to life in their children.

Ron and Sandy Knight are facing this impossible nightmare. Their only child, Matthew, died in an automobile accident in Ruskin on Dec. 28, 2001. He had only recently turned 19.

By all accounts, Matthew was a success story. His accomplishments, dreams and ideals seemed far beyond his 19 years. His parents are now ensuring that those ideals live on.

According to his father, at the age of 15 Matthew contacted the Air Force Academy about joining. He was told to call back in a few years. While that call probably made the day of the person who took it, more than likely it was promptly forgotten. For Matthew, however, it was not forgotten. He wrote a checklist on his bathroom mirror of the things he felt he needed to accomplish to enter the Air Force Academy. That checklist remained there until he left home as a cadet in that academy. Each item had been checked off.

Entering the Air Force Academy, as with all U.S. Military Academies, is not easy. Admissions requirements are steep and only a few will meet them, and fewer still will enter the Academy. A nomination from a U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative or the Vice President is required. Beyond that, high scores on standardized tests, excellent grades in high school and a significant involvement in extracurricular activities is also required. The Air Force Academy recommends beginning the application process during the junior year in high school.

Matthew Knight understood the requirements and welcomed them. In 2000, he graduated from high school 47th out of 7,420 students in Hillsborough County. He earned his pilot's license at the age of 17. He was an Eagle Scout who earned the Bronze Palm, which means he earned at least five merit badges beyond what was required as an Eagle Scout and that he remained active in scouting. He was a National Merit Scholar and a varsity letter winner. He was active in his church and devoted to his parents and his friends. He was described as being generous and even in death he gave. Matthew was an organ donor and, here alone, his generosity is living on in 56 people. He chose to be a donor at such a young age that his father needed to sign for approval.

After his death the Air Force reviewed his laptop computer for sensitive materials. On it, they found a letter that he had written mentioning two things that he wanted out of life: To love as he had been loved and to make a difference with his life.

Thoughts and words far beyond what many people, particularly 19-year-old boys, are able to express, let alone commit themselves to.

On February 28, Ron Knight distributed the first awards from the Matthew A. Knight Foundation. With a voice cracking, revealing a father who will likely never get over the loss of his son, he proudly provided checks to three groups, all an important part of his son's life.

The first check for $4,000 went to his church, Big Bend United Methodist. The next check for $1,000 went to his Boy Scout Troop 661. The third check for $12,000 went to the United States Air Force Academy. That check was the first of three that will pay for 36 students each year to attend a summer seminar.

According to Ron Knight, the checks were distributed in that order because Matthew first attended church, then went to the Boy Scouts and then went to the Air Force Academy.

His desire to make a difference is living on through the Matthew A. Knight Foundation, set up by his parents. According to Ron Knight, the purpose of the foundation is to help people who try to make a difference. "There are people out there who go out of their way to help without expecting anything in return," said Knight. Those are the people they hope to find.

The nonprofit foundation is currently able to provide $3,000 in awards per month. Knight's personal goal is to be able to award $12,000 per month.

Just as they spent the last 19 years with a complete commitment to their son, the Knights' now have a complete commitment to their son's dream of making a difference. As such, any donation that is made to the foundation will be matched in full by Knight. Donations are tax deductible.

Matthew Knight's ultimate goal was to become an astronaut. The dreams and ideals of this remarkable young man are living on. It wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to think that one of the many young people attending a summer program at the United States Air Force Academy will become an astronaut. It wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to think that they will have Matthew Knight to thank for it.

To contribute to the foundation or for information write or fax to: Matthew A. Knight Foundation, 12902 US 301 South, Riverview, FL 33569, Fax 672-8635.