Knecht, William J.
Rowing
b. March 10, 1930, Camden, NJ
Knecht began rowing with the Vesper Boat Club of Philadelphia when he was sixteen and continued with the club during and beyond his college years at Villanova. He won the national 1/4-mile single sculls championship in 1955, 1956 and 1960.
He won three gold medals at three consecutive Pan-American Games. Knecht was a member of the champion eight-oared shell in 1955. He teamed with John B. Kelly Jr. to win the double sculls championship in 1959 and with Robert C. Lea to win the same title in 1963.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Knecht also rowed in the U. S. crew that won an Olympic gold medal in the 1964 eight-oared shell event.