Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries



Fairfield Recorder
July 2008

Funeral services for Teague Fire Chief Robert Leland Knight, 42, who died 
Saturday of injuries sustained in a fire, were held Wednesday morning at First 
Baptist Church of Teague.

Mr. Knight was born at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, briefly lived in
Arkansas and California, but lived most of his life in Teague.

He graduated Teague high school in 1984, attended Tarleton State University and
earned a bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University in 1988.

Mr. Knight went to work for BNSF Railroad in 1989 and was presently a train
engineer and safety coordinator.

The fire chief joined Teague Volunteer Fire Department in 1999 and served as 
chief since 1999, and also was a paramedic, working for Fairfield and Teague 
emergency medical services at various times over the years.  For spending 
countless hours answering the call for civic service, Mr. Knight was named 
Teague "Citizen of the Year" for 2007 by the chamber of commerce. He was a 
member of State Fireman's and Texas Fire Chiefs Association, International 
Association of Fire Chiefs, Boggy Masonic Lodge No. 739, Texas A&M Association 
of Former Students and First United Methodist Church of Teague.

Services were conducted at 10 a.m. by the Rev. Jeff Powers.

Burial was at Greenwood Cemetery.

Mr. Knight is survived by his wife of almost nine years, Teri Jo Knight of
Teague; a son, Trent Knight of Azle; two daughters, Layla and Laura Knight of 
Teague; a brother, Lloyd Knight and wife Capprice of Teague; three nephews, Clay
Knight of College Station and Casey and Cory Knight of Teague; Mother-in-law 
Sue Richards of Fairfield; father-in-law Jerry Richards and wife Karyn of 
Fairfield; an aunt, Elsie Rosseau of Tulia; two uncles, Jim Welborn and wife 
Helen of Mt. Home, Ark., and Bob Welborn of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; 
grandmother-in-law Dell Terry of Fairfield; a sister-in-law, Kathy McSwane and 
husband Will, and their children, Maysel and Cam, of Teague; and several other
relatives.

Mr. Knight is preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Ruth Knight; and 
grandparents, Luther and Edith Welborn and Elmer and Othello Knight.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Teague VFD, or to
First United Methodist Church. 


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Corsicana Daily News
July 07, 2008

Teague fire chief dies

Injuries from weekend fire claim his life
By Bob Wright, Mexia Daily News

TEAGUE — Robert Leland Knight, 42, fire chief for the city of Teague, died from
injuries suffered when a wall reportedly fell onto him during a fire in downtown
Teague over the weekend.

Knight, described by a former city councilman as “a great guy,” died Saturday 
after being taken by an air ambulance to a medical facility in Tyler where he 
was being treated for injuries. A spokesman said a wall collapsed at the site of
a fire Saturday, where an upholstery business was located. That building, 
destroyed by the blaze, was owned by Cleophus McDonald, who did general 
upholstery work, including that of cars. McDonald also restored old cars at the 
location.

Knight was transported by ambulance to the area of Teague High School from where
he was airlifted to the medical facility in Tyler. He was reportedly still alive 
when they got him to Tyler, but died as a result of his injuries.

In addition to serving in the Teague Volunteer Fire Department, Knight was 
employed with the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad as an Engineer 
and Safety Coordinator at Teague. He began his career with BNSF in 1989. A 1988
graduate of Texas A&M University, Knight had resided for most of his life in 
Teague, and had joined the Teague Volunteer Fire Department in 1989. He became 
chief in 1999 and also volunteered as a paramedic. He was a 1984 graduate of 
Teague High School, and attended Tarleton State University prior to transferring 
to Texas A&M.

In April of 2007, the Teague Chamber of Commerce named Knight “Citizen of the 
Year.” He was born at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and briefly lived in
Arkansas and California. Knight was known to be “a proud Aggie” and was a member
of the Texas A&M Association of Former Students. He was a member of the State 
Fire Chief’s Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. As a 
paramedic he worked at different times for both the Teague and Fairfield 
Emergency Medical Systems. Mr. Knight was a member of Boggy Masonic Lodge 739
and was an active member of First United Methodist Church.

Funeral services for Knight will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning in First
Baptist Church of Teague. 

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