White Street Pier renamed for local philanthropist

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Ed Knight is going to have to wait for his big day.

Bad weather postponed the June 9 dedication ceremony to rename the White Street Pier in honor of Knight. But that didn’t diminish the honor the city has bestowed on Knight, age 99, who has lived in Key West for over 75 years, changing the face of the city in myriad positive ways.

“His philanthropic efforts and support of civic organizations serve as example to all of the importance of not only building your city structurally, but building your city honorably,” read the proclamation issued by the city on June 7 to Knight, calling him a visionary and “a man open to new ideas.”

Knight first came to Key West as a naval aviator during World War II. He met his wife, Joan, here and after a career in the local fishing and shrimping industry, Knight opened one of the first Volkswagen dealerships in the United States. The husband and wife team then expanded into real estate, opening Knight Realty, Inc., in 1957. From their small office on Eaton Street next to the Volkswagen dealership, the duo helped reshape the face of Key West, becoming involved in dozens of commercial real estate ventures.

Knight used his success to contribute to myriad causes in the city. One of the most recent was commissioning and donating “The Forgotten Soldier” statue in Bayview Park, which commemorates the 153rd anniversary of the date in 1863 when more than 120 African-American soldiers from Key West were told to report for duty in the Civil War. Knight was also well known for opening his estate on Thompson Island each year for the Key West Lawn Party and Croquet Tournament benefiting WomanKind.

Despite the postponement of what is now the Edward B. Knight Pier, bad weather wasn’t expected to delay the pier repaving project, scheduled to close the popular spot for about a week while the asphalt top is redone.

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