My grandfather, Raymond Knox, died at age 36, when my dad was two years old. That was in 1928. A former student wrote a letter to my grandmother a few days after his death. I am now in possesion of that letter. The content of it indicates the kind of legacy I hope to carry on for generations to come. Here is the letter:

Sylacauga, Alabama,
June 22, 1928

Dear Mrs. Knox,

This morning while on the train between Columbus, Ga. and Birmingham, Ala. I bought an Atlanta Journal and soon found the sad news of the death of my old friend, benefactor, and school teacher and your husband.

I do not know how to express on paper or in words the sorrow I feel and the condolence I wish to extend to you. But regardless of my inability I want to at least attempt to show my appreciation for what Professor Knox has meant to me. I had the honor and privilege of being under his instruction at Donaldsonville. When men reach the top in the teaching profession we are proud to have their signatures in our diplomas. Although this good man’s climb to the top was checked (by his death) when he had successfully overcome his greatest obstacle, I still feel that I have great honor in having his signature on my high school diploma. When I realize the heroic struggle he has made to attain his last successors I cannot but place him in the ranks of the truly great .

His struggle has also been an inspiration and encouragement to me. When teaching me he realized my handicap in going on with my education-lack of finances. He soon let me know that he was personally familiar with that problem. I finally determined that if someone else could make good in that line-without money, I could do the same.

Today I am an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene. I have an A.B. from Pasadena College and an S.E. from Mercer, which I received when he received his, and have most of the required work for a Master’s Degree at Vanderbilt. I have also taught school for four years. Now I have not accomplished as much as I desired, but what I Have done I can truthfully say and gladly say has been done partly because of the inspiration which I obtained while under the instruction of this man.

I also appreciate Prof. Knox for his personal interest in me. He begged me to go to college and offered his assistance to get me started. While I did not go to the college he desired, I felt that I carried his good will with me. I finished H.S. in 1919 and lost all trace of him until I met you at Indian Springs in 1924. In1925, I went to Mercer and met him in a short while. He was a great help to me there last summer.

Here helped me first to get my application fixed up for a Tennessee Teacher’s Certificate. When I asked him to help me with it, I apologized for having to bother him so much when he was so busy. He caught my arm and replied: “Fred! That is what I live for. I love to help my boys.” Needless to say that I felt mighty good… His last and greatest emergency service was about the same week. I could not get my credits from the Donaldsonville High School. One day Dean Jacobs called me to his office and informed me that I could not graduate without my H.S. credits. I told him that I had been trying to get them, but could not hear from the Superintendent, but that I had finished under Mr. Knox. “What Knox” he asked? About that time Prof. Knox walked into the office and l answered: “That one!” Prof. Knox and I fixed up my credits, which were accepted and I was thereby able to graduate.

This is a very feeble attempt to on my heart to express my appreciation for this great and good man. Your loss is great. But you are not alone. His many students throughout the state of Georgia will join you in your hours of sorrow. May this, our mutual loss, and serve to burn more dross out of our lives and leave us purer good to be better able to do the Will of Him who came that we might have abundant and eternal life.

Sincerely yours,
Fred Floyd