For a man, one of the great compliments is to be called a gentleman. The label summons up a person of dignity, who respects others, behaves with consideration and is a good companion. Sun Valley legend and pioneer George Kneeland was just such a man. He lived to be 90 years old, and to the last, his friends remember him as a consummate gentleman. He died Sunday, Oct. 5, in Las Vegas, Nev., where he and his wife, Diane, lived when they weren't in their beloved Sun Valley.
"He moved here in 1948 and broke ground next to the Grays and the Struthers," Nancy Kneeland said. "The house is still standing. We were in the middle. It was one of the first three private homes in Sun Valley. He opened the first law firm in Ketchum (now Kneeland, Korb, Collier & Legg) that was just one of three in the whole valley. Jim Donnelley and Fez Taylor were the others. Sometimes they were the prosecutor, sometimes they were defense and sometimes they were the judge, they used to say."
Kneeland's former wife, Peggy Kneeland, was one of the 17 women who founded the Community Library.
"He did all the legal work for the library," their daughter Nancy said. "All the ground work. He was pretty community minded. He was also the first president of Sun Valley Skating Club though he'd never worn a pair of skates in his life. He'd take me to see Elvis Presley movies in the 1950s. He taught me to fish at Copper Basin. He went bird hunting with Bud Purdy. He was a fly fisherman and an avid golfer—he loved golf and that's all there was to it."
Rip Sewell first met Kneeland when he worked for Union Pacific Railroad in the early 1950s and Kneeland was a young attorney.
"Sometime after I returned with my family in 1969, I was fortunate enough to be included in a golf foursome with George, that sometimes included old-timers like Dr. Irv Cahen, Dr. Bob Gwinner, Hillard Hicks, Bob McElfresh, Bill Smallwood, Gene Biedebach, Dick Porter, Ken Fuller, Ed Dumke and others," Sewell said. "I could write a book about George Kneeland. He was my idol in many ways. He was a gentleman in all respects. He played the game of golf as it was meant to be played. He was as honest as the day is long and I know for certain that he was respected by everyone on and off the golf course.
"Occasionally we would drive down to Blue Lakes Country Club (in Twin Falls) in the winter and play there. Once he and I left Ketchum and it was 28 degrees here as we left. When we arrived at the club, we checked the temperature and it was 28 degrees. We never even got out of the car.
"We both loved the game of golf and we had so many great days playing together that I often wished that all lovers of golf could have it as good as we did. Maybe one day we will have an affordable golf course that our kids and grandkids can play. I know that's what George would have liked. He will be missed by many people, but I like to think that he is playing golf now where all of his drives are down the middle and there's no such a thing as a three putt.
Another friend, Hillard Hicks, also met Kneeland early on in the 1950s.
"He enjoyed golf and the ladies," Hicks said, laughing. "Couldn't drink worth a damn, but he practiced quite a lot."
In fact, the golf buddies held a private nine-hole golf tournament in which there was a bar on every tee. The good old days, Hicks said.
"We had a lot of fun times," Sewell said. "He was a marvelous, marvelous guy. We used to go to the Christiania and have dinner three or four times a year. He was a wonderful host. He was lucky to meet Diane. She is a fantastic lady. They were a great couple."
George and Diane Kneeland met in 1974.
"I was the widow lady and the Puchners invited me to a dinner party," Diane said. "They didn't say anything about meeting a handsome man. I'd been alone awhile. I fell in love with Sun Valley and then fell in love with George."
In 1979 they were married in Las Vegas, Diane's hometown.
"I do think that one of the best things that he loved the most was the art gallery," she said. "I get a lot of credit for the gallery, but it was really George's baby. He helped write the by-laws and get the gallery association organized. We've had it for 26 years. That was not business. It was pure love of art. Many of the artists are our dear friends, and some, like Will Caldwell, were with us in the beginning."
They also opened a Kneeland Gallery in Las Vegas in 1991, which remained open until 1997.
Kneeland changed the face of Ketchum a little at a time, from art to architecture.
One of his partners was Don Siegel, who now lives in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Together they built on the north side of Sun Valley Road between East and Walnut Avenues where Barry Peterson, Ketchum Dry Goods and the Sheepskin Coast Factory are located. As well they built and co-owned the Christiania.
"We were partners for years starting in 1958 or '59," Siegel said. "He was a good friend. That whole block where the Christiania is, we paid $1,000 for. The other, larger lot we bought for $17,000 from Bill Janss."
Kneeland was also a partner with the Atkinsons in the original market in Ketchum.
Ed Dumke, another golfing buddy, said this was a sad time, but remembers Kneeland the way the others do.
"He was a good companion, and a fun fishing and hunting guy," he said. "And he loved golf as much as anyone I've ever seen."
Whether on the links or at the Christy, Kneeland's legacy of civic involvement, good times and friendship will live on.
George Kneeland Photo by
