Mark Oatis has asked me to post the following and I could not have worded it better. The initiation he mentions is what many of you now know as the Letterhead Creed. Keith and I traveled often together and became the best of friends. I will sit down this evening to pen some notes to send to Bruce and hope you all will do the same. Kent
Everybody:
Our brother, mentor and great friend Keith Knecht is hosting a Farewell Celebration. Keith has endured many serious health challenges in recent years, and has arrived at a point of transition. He is inviting his friends in Toledo, as well as his colleagues in the sign profession to join him at a favorite local restaurant for an evening of celebration and fellowship. The time and location:
Friday August 26th 3PM - 7PM Michael's 901 Monroe Street (Corner of Monroe and Michigan) Toledo, OH 43624 419-241-3900
I have been in contact with Keith's brother Bruce, who is helping Keith with the planning of this wonderful gathering. Keith will love to see, and greet, everyone who can attend. And for those unable to be there in person, Bruce (and I) encourage you to send celebratory wishes, anecdotes, pictures or remembrances. These need to go via conventional mail (and hence, should be sent right away), to:
Bruce Knecht 2344 Old Stone Court Apt. 8 Toledo, OH 43614
Keith has been Ambassador Number One for our Craft for over fifty years. During his career he has worked, learned, given and shared with sign artists across the country. His boundless passion, enthusiasm and humor have inspired everyone he has worked alongside, and his talent and skills are without equal. He is a Crackerjack signpainter and showcard artist,as good as they get, and his pinstriping is gorgeous. To watch Keith "put down a strong move" (his words) on a project--well, that was a something it has been my great privilege to behold.
Keith traveled by train to Denver over thirty years ago, to attend a Letterheads meeting--our first "official" initiation was cobbled together in his honor. Keith has a lot of pals; I hope you will take the opportunity to send good wishes his way.
Yours,
Mark Oatis
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
This is interesting. So he is saying Goodybye, Farewell to all. Not many pople get to do this. Although I may not attend, I have to at least send a card.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Just one fine gentleman who has been there at the beginning of the Letterheads and supported it for all these years. It's sad to see him getting ready to say good-bye, but he will do it will class, just like he does everything else.
Posted by Mark Klein (Member # 6586) on :
Very sad to hear.. wish I was able to go. Keith spent some time down here with us at a.m. design years back. Learned a lot from him.. a great talent and friend.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
It's been a bunch of years since Keith and I got to kick at anything together. I miss him without him leaving. This is sad, happy and poignant.
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
I am one of the lucky ones who had the opportunity to meet ,work alongside and know the man who stood head and shoulders above many. Bill
Posted by Tom & Kathy Durham (Member # 776) on :
It was my honor to pick Keith up at the airport at the Kansas City meet. He entertained us from that moment on with stories of sign painting. He definitly was on the list of greats that were there. I am lucky to know him.
Posted by Sal Cabrera (Member # 1236) on :
I met Keith a couple years ago, the last time I saw him we shared a room at Detroit he is one of great guy with a lots of good stories, when we were on Detroit he gave some old books of Perry, Elgren , Bill ward just to mention a few, I was so honored and lucky to have had him as good Friend, this so sad to hear this I wish was able to go.
Posted by Barb. Shortreed (Member # 1730) on :
We plan on attending that.
Posted by Steve Shortreed (Member # 436) on :
I have a favor to ask. Please look over all your photos from early meets. Pick out those special one's of Keith and scan them. I'm going to suggest you scan at a resolution of at least 150 dpi so they are suitable for printing, as well as online.
Email the photos to Barb and we'll put together a slideshow to take along with us to Toledo. Keith has been a friend and mentor to me since 1983. Let's make sure he knows how many his life has touched.
Send your photos to barb@letterville.com
Posted by Sam Radoff (Member # 4972) on :
old friend
years ago i had him come to my shop in detroit , to work on a top feul dragster ask him how that went ---it will bring a BIG SMILE .
yosemite sam
Posted by david butler (Member # 591) on :
Signs of the Times magazine is where we first saw Keith's work, he and Chester Cunningham were inspirations to many of us back in the good ole days when a brush was as important to a signpainter as Wild Bill's Navy Colts were to him. In the late 80's we found ourselves with more work than we could handle, acting on the advise of David Showalter we gave Keith a call to see if he could come over and give us a hand...he did! It was great having him around here and boy did he get the work done and it looked wonderful, we learned plenty from him and one night we invited several Michiana signpainters down to spend an evening with our guest. Well that was a mistake! They stole him away from us and Keith then spent better than a month up in Elkhart painting with "those guys". He painted us a little panel before he left with an old time Sho-Card alphabet that will someday find it's home in the American Sign Museum. Susie and I will be there to help celebrate the life and times of one of the best to honor our craft.
Posted by David Showalter (Member # 2567) on :
I first met Keith at the Chicago Letterhead meet. We later traveled by train to the Kansas City meet and boy what a blast that was !! On the train also was the great Al Grand who also became a dear and close friend. The train ride was almost as much fun as the meet. As you can imagine the stories of the snapers and early years were wonderful! I was just a green young sign painter then and Keith always gave me pointers on layouts , fonts and colors. I owe him alot for being there for me and showing me what good signage should look like. I am honored to call him my friend and I look forward to seeing him. Toledo Blade...see you soon!!
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Steve, I will email these as well but the one pic is of my mom with Keith in Fl in '1985.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Wish I could be there. Since I'll be having surgery the day before, I'll probably be so buzzed on pain meds I won't know I'm not there.
Posted by Gary Anderson (Member # 2085) on :
Keith and I have been friends for a long time, he would call quite often in the 80's to offer encouragement. He would prop me up many times when I wondered if I was doing anything worthwhile, so maybe I can now return the favor. I will see you there. Thanks Keith for keeping my spirit alive! Gary Anderson
Posted by Pete Payne (Member # 344) on :
I was at a small local car about 3 hrs north of Toledo show a couple years ago and saw a 1960 or so vette with all that metal flake and geometric panel paint so popular way back when, faded, cracked and chipped, and some really beautiful pinstriping, and guess what signature I found? geez I hope they never repaint it!
