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The Mountain Home Education Foundation celebrated its 2024 Night of Honors Thursday evening at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home’s Vada Sheid Community Development Center, recognizing four distinguished individuals and one organization for their contributions to education.
The first award for the evening was the Bob Knight Bomber Spirit Award, which went to Mr. Tommy Knight. Tommy Knight, who is described by classmates as being a “bomber since birth,” is the brother of the late Bob Knight, who passed away in 2021.
Bob Knight was a radio legend in Mountain Home while serving as the voice for KTLO. He was also the founding president of the Mountain Home Education Foundation.
The evening’s master of ceremonies, KTLO’s Heather Loftis, who took over the radio station after the passing of her father, presented the award to her uncle with personal appreciation.
“You know, he helped me too. He came over to the driveway, taught me how to shoot free throws,” Loftis said. “Coach Wood, that served us well one night.”
After presenting the award, the Mountain Home Education Foundation played a video of members of the community honoring Mr. Knight for his service to the school district and the community.
Sandy Irby of First Century Bank, representing the Class of 1973, introduced Knight with warm remembrances of their shared history.
“Tommy has been the glue that has kept our class together,” Irby said. “He knows everyone and everything, what they’re doing, where they are, and how to get us together. He’s been instrumental in every class reunion we’ve ever had – Tommy has always served and protected his friends, family and classmates. In high school, he was a fire marshal and protected us. Today, he’s protecting us by making sure that we all have the right Medicare insurance and coverage.”
Classmate Curt Nebben highlighted Knight’s dedication to Mountain Home athletics, particularly noting his advocacy for past achievements.
“I understand that the Bob Knight Bomber Spirit Award goes to some who exemplifies Bomber Spirit,” Nebben said. “I can think of no one better who fits that description than Tommy. The town of Mountain Home and the public school system is always intertwined in my opinion and Tommy is an advocate for both. He has supported millage increases to improve the school district. That not only helps the students and give them a leg up in society, but rising tides raise all boats, which included Mountain Home.”
“Tommy has been a relentless advocate for the inclusion of the 1971-72 basketball team in the Sports Hall of Fame,” Nebben added on Knights dedication to Bomber Sports. “This team was at times in top 10 in the state and won the Arkansas Tech Tournament Championship, which is the second hardest tournament to win in the state.”
Nebben drew laughter from the crowd when discussing Knight’s dedication to the school’s rivalry with Harrison.
“Tommy has just a proper hate of Harrison and the Goblins,” Nebben said. “And I think this is essential if we have bomber spirit. Now, we’re supposed to love our neighbors, but this hate is good. It’s biblical. We’re driving out evil spirits and Tommy has more spirit than anyone I know.”
Knight’s children, Mountain Home Public Schools Director of Operations Chris Knight and Dr. Haylee Plumlee, shared personal insights about their father through a video presentation.
“I think there’s two things my dad loves the most, and that’s our family and his alma mater. They both make him really proud,” Dr. Plumlee said. “This is like the perfect award for him for being the Bob Knight Spirit award. He was just so honored to receive that letter in the mail and super humbled. I think it really shocked him.”
Plumlee also highlighted her father’s ongoing commitment to youth sports in Mountain Home.
“He coached Top Flight for probably at least five or six years as a co-founding member. A lot of those kids, he started with in kindergarten and coached them all the way through sixth grade,” she said. “I know we go to games and a lot of them come up and give him a hug. I have to remember that he wasn’t just our coach. He coached a lot of kids. He still has a fifth grade team today and I still see him at the gym all the time.”
Chris Knight emphasized his father’s consistency in parenting.
“The greatest impact that he had in my life was just being a father, being a great father, and always being there.”
Knight and Plumlee also joked that their dad shouldn’t cry when he got on stage.
In his acceptance speech, Knight expressed his belief that the Mountain Home Public School district had everything a student needed to succeed.
“I’m so proud of the Mountain Home school system,” Tommy Knight said. “I’m a firm believer that if you’re wanting to learn, willing to learn, this school system has everything you need to advance to the next level in life’s journey.”
Knight also thanked his wife Brenda “for putting up with Top Flight, basketball on weekends, playing basketball with some little kids who needed help,” and acknowledged his children and their families.
The foundation’s executive director, Mollie Morgan, reported that the evening raised approximately $15,000 to support student scholarships and innovative teaching projects within the district.
The Night of Honors continued with presentations recognizing Sandy Almond (Ernest Perry Award), Clint Pevril (Retired Educator Award), Dr. Justin Lonon (Distinguished Alumnus), and the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce (Community Partner Award).
