NEIGHBORS: Knotts believes it's important to volunteer your time to help others

By Timberly Ferree Dale Knotts of Linton believes it's important to give back his community, and that's the reason he volunteers his time for many community projects each year. Knotts works for Bloomfield State Bank, Lyons Branch. [Order this photo]

Giving back to the community is a reward in itself if you ask one local man.

Whether its participating in the Linton Men's Civitan or organizing the Linton Freedom Festival and 34 Days of June, Dale Knotts is a busy man.

"Volunteering and being involved in community activities is something I believe to be very important and a very worthwhile endeavor," he explained. "I've always thought and been convinced that it is very important for those of us that are capable to give back to our respectable communities."

When it comes to Linton's Freedom Festival, Knotts has 16 years of experience serving on its task force.

"This group endeavors to promote and put Linton's best foot forward each year on the Fourth of July and the entire week during the Freedom Festival," he said. "This is really a 12-month process. We review the year's activity shortly after the Fourth of July and make changes for the following year."

The goal is to make the parade top-notch by encouraging float entries as well as including local high school bands, cheerleaders and the like.

"We attempt to put Linton's best foot forward that day and we continually think of economic development," Knotts added.

Linton's annual Freedom Festival parade draws an estimated crowd of 35,000 to 40,000 folks, he said, noting it's impossible to actually count the spectators.

His involvement with the Linton Men's Civitan also means giving back.

"Our primary project is Cloth-A- Child and Toys for Tots," he explained. "Linton Civitan has for the past several years spent $30,000 to $35,000 on needy youngsters in Greene County (through the project)."

Each year the need grows, he said. So, the Civitan steps up its efforts to meet the needs as do the locals in the community.

"Greene County folks are very generous. We couldn't even begin to think about doing it (Cloth-A-Child/Toys for Tots) without local support," he added.

Knotts is also a board member of the Carnegie Heritage and Arts Center -- which is located in the old Margaret Cooper Library in Linton.

The center offers music, art, and writing lessons as well as meeting rooms to be used by the community.

"There's been a lot of work on the inside (and) most folks wouldn't recognize it," Knotts said.

Participating in church activities, school functions, coaching little league or assisting in a fundraiser for civic organizations, can be very rewarding and done as a family project, he noted.

With today's economy, Knotts urges others to help when they can.

"Our economic condition today is very fragile. I think it is incumbent upon each one of us to reach out and extend a helping hand to those who are having a difficult time, due to no fault of their own," he explained.

Knotts has been in the banking business since 1984.

In 1992, he came to Linton and worked with Sherman Anderson at the old Citizen's Bank. In May 2006, he took a severance buy-out package at Regions Bank (formerly Citizen's Bank). Now, he's employed at the Bloomfield State Bank's Lyons branch -- where he's been since July 2006.

"I've been involved in commercial and agricultural lending for the past 25 years. Commercial and agricultural lending has given me the opportunity to be ever mindful of our obligation as bankers to keep rural development and economic growth in mind," Knotts explained. "There is, and will always be, a common bond between local community banks and the ongoing effort to strengthen communities, and improve the quality of family life."

His primary interest is the family farm -- located west of Carlisle.

"My sister and I are fourth generation (commercial farmers)," Knotts said. "The farm is very near and dear to my heart. I hope to preserve it for my daughters and granddaughters."

His mother, Jean Knotts, 85, still resides at the family farm.

Knotts and his wife, Cathie, a retired Linton-Stockton High School Spanish teacher, also enjoy spending time with their three granddaughters.

Both Dale and Cathie Knotts grew up about two miles west of Carlisle on family farms. They have two grown daughters.

In his spare time, Knotts enjoys kicking back with some classic rock-n-roll.

"Cathie and I like to sneak off once in a while and listen to good old time rock and roll music," he said.

She dances while he watches.