Major Contribution to Ravenna Schools
Charles “Oscar” Knight Jr., a Ravenna native, graduated from Ravenna High School in 1949. Born June 6, 1931, he died December 28, 1997. He was on the Record Courier sports staff for twenty-six years, retiring in 1996. He was also employed full time for the Ohio Department of Transportation for forty-five years, retiring in 1996. He played football for Ravenna until a severe leg injury forced him to quit. He then became team manager for football, baseball, and basketball for his remaining school years. After high school he was a player-coach for fast pitch softball from 1950 through 1960. He also served as an official for high school and amateur baseball and basketball games for ten years. For nineteen years he was a coach and officer in the Ravenna Pee Wee Football organization. Oscar was the official statistician for the Ravenna football and basketball teams never missing a football game in thirty-four years, and only missed one basketball game in twenty-six years. In 1992 he was inducted into the Portage County Sports Hall of Fame. In 1997 he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Ravenna Schools for his dedication to Ravenna. He was a member of the Ravenna Elks and Ravenna Moose. Oscar was married to Maxine “Mickey” Bennett and had three children, Robin, Penny, and Jerry.