Born: c. 1909 in Oswego
Died: October 29, 1975
Married: Evelyn Walton of Lake Placid
Children: Lee W. Knight, Jr., Glenda Knight Clayton
Lee W. Knight (also W. Lee Knight) graduated from Plattsburgh State Teachers College, and did graduate work at Boston University and St. Lawrence University.
He and his wife bought the Algonquin School in 1941, and ran it for many years. He lived at Pinehurst on Forest Home Road. He served on the Winter Carnival committee, as secretary of the Saranac Lake Rotary Club, and as a trustee of the First Methodist Church, and a member of the Elks Club.
Tom Clark tells the story that [Lee Knight] Jr. was an accomplished musician and played with Pete Seeger.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, October 29, 1975
Lee Knight dies at home
SARANAC LAKE - Lee W. Knight, 66, a resident of Saranac Lake since 1941 and founder, with his wife, of the Algonquin School, died suddenly last evening at his home, at Pinehurst on the Forest Home Road.
Reportedly he had choked on food. The Rescue Squad was called at 6:53 p.m., but Mr. Knight was dead on arrival at Saranac Lake General Hospital.
He was born in Oswego. Was graduated from the Plattsburgh State Teachers College, and did graduate work at Boston University and St. Lawrence University.
In 1927 he moved to Lake Placid and, in 1932, was married to Evelyn Walton of that village.
Knight has served on the Winter Carnival Committee, as secretary of the Rotary Club; and as a trustee of the Methodist Church. He also was a member of the Elks Club.
The Knights founded the Algonquin School for handicapped children when they moved to Saranac Lake in 1941. It is now under the supervision of their daughter, Glenda Knight Clayton.
In addition to his wife and Mrs. Clayton, Mr. Knight is survived by a son. Lee W. Knight, of South Carolina and a grandson.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, October 30, 1975
Obituary
W. Lee Knight
SARANAC LAKE — The funeral service for W. Lee Knight, 66, who died suddenly Tuesday evening at his home, will be at 2 p.m., Friday afternoon at the Saranac Lake Methodist Church with the pastor, the Rev. Eric King, officiating. Interment will follow in the North Elba Cemetery in Lake Placid.
Friends may call this evening at the family home on Pinehurst Road in memory of Mr. Knight Friends wishing to remember him may make donations to the Red Cross in his memory.
Mr. Knight, owner and director of the Algonquin School from 1942 to his retirement in 1969, was a life member of Elks, a member of the Masons and the Shrine, a Red Cross volunteer, past president of the Golf Club and a past trustee of the Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Walton Knight; a son, W. Lee, Jr. of Columbia. S.C.; a daughter, Glenda Clayton of Saranac Lake; and a grandson, Tyler Clayton.
