Richard Knight Jr., 76, a former member of the UNT System Board of Regents who was Dallas’ first Black city manager, died Nov. 23 in Dallas.
He was a member of the Board of Regents from 1999 to 2002.
Knight served as assistant city manager for Dallas from 1982 to 1986, then took helm as city manager from 1986 to 1990 during which time he spearheaded the expansion of the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park and the Dallas Convention Center.
He founded several companies, including Knight Waste Services, and was active in numerous nonprofit organizations.
He previously worked as city manager in Durham, North Carolina; Carrboro, North Carolina; and Gainesville, Florida.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Fort Valley State University and his master’s degree from the University of North Carolina. He was a member of the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam War.
