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Eddy Knight, founder of Knight Oil Tools attended Louisiana Tech and graduated from Centenary College with a bachelor’s degree in commerce. Upon graduation, Eddy began his career in the Oil & Gas Industry as a sales rep for Midcontinent Supply Company. In 1962 Eddy took his honed sales skills and moved to Drilco where he worked as a sales representative and sales manager for the next nine years. During Eddy’s Drilco tenure he was awarded the Outstanding Salesman Award each consecutive year from 1962 through 1971. With more than fifteen (15) years of success under his belt since graduating college, Eddy set out to form his own company. In 1972 Eddy Knight opened Knight Specialties originally using his vehicle as an office and his family’s garage and backyard for inventory storage. Later in 1972 Eddy opened Knight’s first official stock point in Morgan City, Louisiana. Eddy relocated his family to Lafayette, Louisiana, and the company’s headquarters to the current campus in 1974. Eddy expanded to Texas in 1976 opening Knight and Philips Specialties in Houston. In this same year, Eddy formed Harmon Rentals in Kilgore, Texas and opened Knight and Philips Rental Company in Oklahoma.
Knight continued to grow organically and in 1983, Eddy acquired Douglas Oil Tools in Louisiana, Point Blank Rental Tools in Texas, and American Rental Tools in Oklahoma. In 1984 these companies merged their operations into what is today known as Knight Oil Tools. The internal growth of the company continued and additional acquisitions were made. Robinson Tubular Services was acquired in 1996 and Knight Fishing Services was begun 1999. Tri-Drill Inspection Services, Prideco Rentals, and Myco Rentals, were additional acquisitions in the years between 1999 and 2001. All of these companies today operate under the umbrella of Knight.
Eddy married Ann Rinchuso from Shreveport, Louisiana in 1955 and they have three children; Mark, Bryan and Kelly Knight Sobiesk. Eddy and Ann also have seven grandchildren. Eddy and Ann wanted everyone to have the opportunity to get a college education and began an Education Fund for the children of the employees of the company. Today, no matter how new the employee, his or her child is eligible for a scholarship each and every semester of undergraduate school so long as they are a full time student. To date over $200,000 of scholarships have been awarded to children of Knight’s employees.
Eddy played an active role in his church, community and industry. He served on numerous boards and committees and as Chairman of the Bishop’s Charity Ball was instrumental in raising more than $500,000 to support the Bishop’s charities. He was also very involved in the Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Boy Scouts Beaver Award in 2001.
Eddy passed away in 2002 and although he is no longer here, he is certainly not forgotten by the multitude of people whose lives he touched, By Golly". | 