Part of history wall

Luis Pena

Family, friends and colleagues gathered on Sunday to dedicate the

Newport Beach Public Library history wall to the late Robert S. Knox.

The Through the Years history wall, the latest addition to the

library, consists of various photographs from the library’s past. The

library’s board of trustees decided that the best way to honor Knox

would be with a dedication.

Knox first became involved with the library in 1998 when he

participated in the library’s speaker and lecture series. In that

same year, Knox became one of the trustees of the library. Knox was

involved in the Commitment to Excellence, the library’s five-year

plan.

Speaking at the dedication, library board President Hamilton said

that Knox had made a real impression on him, though he had only known

him for three years. Knox guided the library in the belief that the

library should be excellent in everything that it did, Hamilton said.

Knox came to Newport Beach in the late 1970s. He soon became

involved in the community. He joined Speak up Newport, a discussion

group that tries to get the community involved in issues that face

the city, Hamilton said. Knox became the group’s director in 1994.

Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg said some words about Knox at

the dedication.

“Every once in a while, someone comes along that really makes a

difference. Everybody makes a difference in some degree,” Bromberg

said. “Every once in a while, someone comes along that just stands

out from the crowd, and Bob was one of those guys.”

Mellissa Kelly, support services manager, enjoyed the working

relationship that she had with Knox because he gave humanity to the

projects that they were developing.

“He didn’t seek personal glory or recognition,” said Judy Kelley,

the library’s youth and branch services manager. “He did it for the

good of the library,” Kelley said.

Bromberg said he was proud of the preeminence that the library has

achieved and that Knox was one of the reasons for that preeminence.

Knox’s widow, Penny Knox, said she was proud that her husband was

chosen to be remembered with the dedication.

“I feel very honored for him that the city has chosen to remember

him in this manner,” she said. “He loved the library, and I can’t

think of a better place for him to be memorialized than this

beautiful building.”

* LUIS PENA is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at [email protected].