Duke Hall of Famer Ernest M. "Bear" Knotts Passes Away

2/26/2019 11:30:00 AM | Football

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Ernest M. “Bear” Knotts, a member of the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame, passed away on Friday, February 22 at the age of 94.

Born in Ozark, Ala., and raised in Albemarle, N.C., Knotts lettered four seasons (1943-44-45-46) as a lineman for the Blue Devils under coaches Eddie Cameron and Wallace Wade. He helped Duke to a four-year record of 24-12 with three Southern Conference championships along with a 29-26 victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl played on January 1, 1945.

Knotts, who served as a team captain in 1945, twice earned All-America honors in 1944 and 1945 and was enshrined into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993. A fourth round selection of the Chicago Bears in the 1946 NFL Draft, he was the first of four brothers to play football at Duke, joining James (1947-48-49), Don (1949-50) and Doug (1953-54-55).

Additional information may be accessed at https://www.hartsellfuneralhomes.com/listings.

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