Community Profile

Donn Knox splits wood, smokes salmon, kayaks and makes apple cider from the trees on his Agate property. He reads avidly, books about history and geography, but never fiction. He's built three houses, including the house he shares with his wife, Nancy, with a view of the Harstine Island bridge.

"He is probably the most active person I've ever known," said his daughter, Stephanie Nichols.

On Saturday, the World War II veteran turns 100 years old. A Mason County resident since 1989, he'll be celebrating with four generations of family in Federal Way.

Knox was born July 20, 1924, in Portland. His father was a carpenter and foreman, his mother a homemaker. He was an only child and the closest neighbor was a half-mile away. He played on the high school football squad on offense despite being "the little guy on the team." He graduated from Westport High School in 1942.

Knox enrolled at Oregon State College - now University - but the absence of math from the curriculum at his small high school proved to be an obstacle when it came to tackling algebra, Knox recalled. "I didn't even know how to spell it."

Knox joined the Navy Seabees on Jan. 13, 1943. He was stationed for a year in Auckland, New Zealand, where he used his carpentry experience. He then spent almost two years in the Solomon Islands. He worked the night shift from 4 p.m. to midnight, loading cargo ships bound for battles in the Pacific. He came home after the war ended and was discharged Jan. 31, 1946.

Knox worked as a carpenter and then got a job as a draftsman for automatic sprinkler systems that put out fires. He joined larger sprinkler system companies as a salesman and designer before he started his own business.

Between Knox and his wife, they have seven daughters. All are planning to attend Knox's birthday party Saturday, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren travelling from all over the country.

The Knoxes moved from Steel Lake in Federal Way to their Agate property in 1989. He eats fresh foods and exercises. He quit smoking when he was 25 or 30, a habit he acquired at 14. "It was the hardest thing I've ever done," he said.

Knox said he doesn't have any words of wisdom he wants to share. As for the current state of affairs, "I'm glad I'm almost out," he said. "I don't think the nation will last for much longer. I have little confidence in Biden. When Trump got elected, I thought I'd move to Wellington, New Zealand, or British Columbia."