Richard L. Knight would be there for you whether he knew you for five minutes or five years. That was clear to Abbey Dudek from the moment she met Knight through the Rotary Club of Fort Worth.
He was there when she came out as a gay woman and met her future wife. He was there when Dudek wanted company for a bike ride. He was there when Dudek needed advice, offering to meet up so they could compare notes on dating and relationships.
That’s why the news of Knight’s death at 56, from a heart attack earlier this week, left Dudek feeling “shattered.” In the days since, she keeps waiting to wake up from a terrible dream.
“I feel like a piece of me has died because I don’t have family, my family is not accepting … and he was my family, he was my brother,” Dudek said. “Fort Worthians don’t even realize who just passed away. People don’t even know there is a hole in Fort Worth.”
Knight’s sudden death has left family and friends mourning the loss of a vocal champion for business owners of color and other causes close to his heart, such as the Women’s Center of Tarrant County.
He served many roles throughout his life, including vice president of family-owned Knight Waste Services, a licensed real estate agent and a board member for too many organizations to count, friends said. But he was most passionate about spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren, friend Ed McLin said.
His son, Rashaud Knight, took to Facebook to share words about his father and recognize the vast impact he had on the community.
“Daddy, until we see each other again. I’m very thankful I got plenty of memories of you. I love you forever, my role model and twin,” Rashaud Knight said.
Knight never did anything halfway, said friend Rosa Maria Berdeja. When her law firm won second place in the Rotary Club of Fort Worth’s minority business awards last year, Knight spent an entire day with her to learn about Berdeja’s childhood and career. As chair of the awards, Knight wanted to ensure he gave Berdeja a proper introduction to his beloved fellow Rotarians.
It was above and beyond what was required, Berdeja said. But that was Knight.
“He wanted to honor these minority business owners and spotlight them and do everything he could to set them up for success,” Berdeja said. “I’ve always thought I was a good person, but knowing him makes me feel like I could do better because he made everyone feel welcome, everyone feel valued.”
Now, Berdeja fears the first time she will attend a Friday Rotary meeting without Knight in the seat next to her. McLin feels the same.
He and Knight shared a love of bourbon and old-fashioned cocktails — a passion that brought them together at a regular networking group where they ranked their experience based on ice quality or the space’s ambience.
With a wide circle of friends and mentees, Knight was always willing to lend an ear to anyone who needed it, McLin said.
“He was a very caring, loving person and just a very good friend,” McLin said. “He was an awesome guy, one of the best people I’ve ever known.”
Whether it was a Hispanic cultural event or a Rangers game, Knight’s friends knew who they wanted to invite. Knight was endlessly curious to learn more about others, Berdeja said.
“He always said yes without hesitation,” Berdeja said. “That’s one of the things that I’m going to miss most about him, that every time we wanted to go anywhere, we always knew Richard was going to be there because he always showed up.”
In the coming weeks, McLin expects the Rotary Club to honor Knight, who helped pioneer the minority business awards ceremony that has since taken off in other chapters. Friends already gathered this week to remember Knight at The Capital Grille, a favorite hangout spot.
Dudek plans to honor her friend with an annual Ride for Richard — a 50-mile bike ride to raise money for the American Heart Association. In the final years of his life, Dudek said, she and Knight bonded over cycling and taking rides on trails across the city.
Dudek’s first ride, which has raised around $1,000 in donations so far, will kick off June 1 in Pecan Valley Park. She hopes those who knew Knight can carry on his legacy and passion for helping the people of Fort Worth.
“He was just a beacon in this community and I just feel like a light has gone out,” Dudek said. “A spotlight in Fort Worth has gone dim because he was such a big part of this community.”
Haley Samsel is the environmental reporter for the Fort Worth Report. You can reach them at haley.samsel@fortworthreport.org.
Georgie London is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at georgie.london@fortworthreport.org.
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