Kristine "Kris" Knab ('78) Honored for Exemplary Public Service Career
Doug Mann and Kris Knab’s children, Nathan and Erin Kenney, accepted the Exemplary Public Service Career Award on behalf of Knab. A portrait of Knab was revealed during the Homecoming Reception.
In October, we posthumously presented our inaugural Exemplary Public Service Career Award to alumna Kristine “Kris” Knab (’78), who passed away July 19, 2018. One of 49 nominees, the award committee selected Knab for her decades of service at Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (LSNF), where she worked from 1978 until retiring in 2016. Knab’s last 22 years at LSNF were as executive director.
“There were many worthy FSU law grads nominated for the first Exemplary Public Service award, but Kris stood out for the length, breadth and depth of her service,” said Nancy Daniels (’77), a member of the award committee. “She devoted her life to the representation of the poor in Florida and created a talented corps of Legal Services offices.”
Nominators called Knab a “champion for the underprivileged,” and submitted evidence of her skillful leadership of LSNF, especially during times of limited resources.
“Not only is Kris undeniably deserving, but her selection as the first recipient of this award would set an appropriately high bar for all future nominees,” wrote nominator Tom Powell (’76). “To the listed criteria for this award – exceptional character, integrity, humility, professionalism and ethics – I would add dedication, selflessness, generosity and unfailing respect for others, and say that she exceeds all conceivable expectations in every category.”
The Honorable Claudia Isom (’75) wrote, “Because this award honors FSU graduates who have given their life, or the entirety of their legal career, and souls to public service, I can think of no person better qualified than Kris Knab.”
Under her leadership, staff and pro bono lawyers in five offices covering 16 counties recovered Social Security benefits, helped domestic violence victims, represented children in foster care, provided services to homeless veterans, obtained financial relief for public housing residents and more.
Kris Knab
Knab was also a successful social change agent and collaborator. She often wrote grants, reviewed cases, and worked with other nonprofit executives to improve the delivery of human services and increase recognition of the contribution the sector makes to the community.
Knab was involved in many community service activities, including the Orange Avenue United Tenants Association and the Leon County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and was no stranger to accolades. She was the first recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Public Service. She was honored by Tallahassee Community College as a Woman of Courage and Vision, the Girl Scouts named her a Woman of Distinction, and the Oasis Center for Women and Girls presented her with a Trailblazer Award. She also received a Legend Award from the Tallahassee Urban League.
“There were many worthy candidates who have dedicated themselves to public service,” said Daniels, “but Kris was a pioneer of the legal services movement in our state and country. She battled courageously to provide effective, strong representation to the poor and always conducted herself with grace and professionalism. Behind the scenes, she had a wicked, irreverent sense of humor and did not take guff from anyone.”
Knab was posthumously honored during our 2018 Homecoming Reception, and as the Exemplary Public Service Career Award recipient, an oil portrait of Knab is displayed prominently at the law school.
As printed in the 2019 issue of Florida State Law magazine.