Tahoe preservationist, politician Knisley dies

Wednesday, May 6, 1998 | 9:47 a.m.

Ray Knisley was a man whose efforts to preserve the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe, improve Nevada's educational system and tighten the operations of local governments have prepared the state for the challenges of the 21st century.

He boasted that, as a four-term assemblyman from Pershing: "I made no attempt to form a voting block, did not ask for a vote or promise mine. Any influence I may have had was because of my wide experience and knowledge."

For much of the last half of this century, Knisley was an influential force and highly respected advisor in state politics.

Raymond L. Knisley, a one-time mule skinner and rancher who served in the Assembly from 1959-65 and later was named a "Distinguished Nevadan," has died in Henderson. He was 99 and a resident of Boulder City.

Knisley, a former longtime Lovelock resident, died Monday at St. Rose Dominican Hospital following a lengthy illness.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Palm Mortuary-Henderson.

"Ray was an exceptional man who excelled as a businessman and public servant," former two-term Nevada Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, now executive editor of the Sun, said.

O'Callaghan had appointed Knisley as his representative to the Lake Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, which consisted of California, Nevada and federal government officials.

"His years on the agency and as a state legislator were of great value for the people of Nevada," O'Callaghan said. "He was truly a state treasure."

O'Callaghan's friendship with Knisley spanned 40 years. As recently as two months ago, O'Callaghan said Knisley was giving him advice on issues ranging from taxes to environmental protection.

"I wish Ray would have stayed with us long enough to greet the next century," O'Callaghan said.

Born Aug. 22, 1898, in Gentry County, Mo., Knisley was the son of an auctioneer whose roots dated back to the birth of the United States. His mother was from a family that played a major role in the development of colonial Richmond, Va.

Knisley was born on a farm that years earlier had been surveyed by pioneer legend Daniel Boone.

Knisley was educated in a little red school house. In a memoir he recalled: "My basic education was excellent -- reading, writing and arithmetic taught to the tune of a hickory stick."

As a young man, Knisley toured the world and made three visits to Europe. In his years in the Assembly he addressed many educational issues and declared: "I have not believed I was unschooled because I never attended a university."

While still of school age, Knisley moved from the Midwest to California, riding the entire way on horseback.

His first job was at the Santa Anita Rancho in Arcadia, working for Anita Baldwin, daughter of Nevada pioneer Lucky Baldwin. Knisley would work for the Baldwin family for fifty years.

He moved up the ladder from polo pony trainer to mule skinner to teamster and eventually became a land developer for the Baldwin family.

In 1921, Knisley was sent to Lake Tahoe, where the Baldwins owned property. His mission was to contact the other large landowners and try to get commitments to convey their lands to the U.S. government to create a national park.

His dream of preserving Lake Tahoe would not be realized until 1951, when the government finally purchased 4,700 acres which it developed into a recreational area. Knisley was instrumental in the development of Camp Richardson and other resorts at the lake.

On Sept. 14, 1930, he married Florence Richardson following a brief courtship. Their son died in infancy, but the couple had two daughters that survive them. Florence died in 1967.

In the 1940s, the Baldwins increased their Nevada holdings by purchasing the 500,000-acre Horseshoe Cattle Ranch at Beowawe. Knisley later would manage that property and own a 4,000-acre ranch in Lovelock.

As a Nevada citizen, he joined the Cattlemen's Association, Taxpayers Association and local Chamber of Commerce. Knisley took a great interest in local, county and state affairs, supporting higher pay for public employees, including school teachers, by championing a 2 percent sales tax, which was passed by voters.

Still, Knisley maintained that he had no aspirations back then to run for office. But, he was pressured into a run at the State Senate, losing in 1957 to Wilson McGowan by a handful of votes.

Two years later, he ran as a Democrat unopposed for the Assembly. In three reelection bids, Knisley ran unopposed.

"Ray was the developer of the oversight process for counties' bond indebtedness," former Assembly speaker William Swackhamer, a Democrat who served with Knisley and now is retired and living in Carson City, said. "The process he developed is still used today."

Knisley also proposed a new standing committee that would relieve the overburdened Judiciary Committee and handle state, county and city affairs. The new committee was named Government Affairs, and Knisley became its first chairman.

Swackhamer said Knisley's work to improve education helped lead to the development of the Desert Research Institute.

"He was a friendly man who loved to be around people -- what better thing can you say about a man?" Swackhamer said.

Knisley's Assembly career came to an end following reapportionment at the legislature's 11th special session from Oct. 25-Nov. 13, 1965, which he attended. In effect, Knisley became Pershing's last assemblyman.

In 1967, Swackhamer became the representative of the new Eureka-Lander-Pershing district. That same year, at the UNR graduation ceremonies, Knisley was named a "Distinguished Nevadan." He later noted that it was the award of which he was most proud.

After his years in the Legislature, Knisley became what he called "a lobbyist for good government." As an associate of State Sen. Jim Gibson, he read and analyzed bills.

In the early 1980s, Knisley was part of a state committee that developed a plan to put a cap on tax increases but also improve the revenues of 105 state agencies. It was adopted and is still in force.

Knisley lived his later years in Boulder City and had been looking forward to achieving the century mark.

"As I near 100 years of age, my memory isn't constant, which I regret," he recently wrote. "Anyway, it's been a full life, and I will leave it with no regret."

Knisley is survived by two daughters, Karen Knisley of Boulder City and Barbara Knisley Lespade of Elko; three grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an older brother and sister and a younger brother and sister.