William W. Knight

William W. Knight (February 8, 1909 – February 19, 1981) was an American lawyer, politician, and newspaper publisher. He lived, worked in, and raised a family with his wife, Lota Hatfield Knight, in Portland, Oregon. Their son, Phil Knight, a high school and college athlete, went on to co-found Nike. Life and career Commonly known as Bill, Knight was born on February 8, 1909, in Winnebago, Minnesota, to Fred A. Knight and Edith M. Knight, but grew up in Roseburg, Oregon. Knight received his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1932. In 1935, he was elected as a Republican to the Oregon House of Representatives from Douglas County, Oregon; Knight was 26. He served one term. "He also served as a Douglas County deputy district attorney under Guy Cordon, who later was a U.S. Senator." In 1939, Knight and his family moved to Portland, where he became "legal counsel for the Industrial Relations Association of Oregon."