In the News

Walter Knestrick: A very creative businessman
The Tennessean
February 9, 2010

A conversation with Walter Knestrick is rarely just about the topic at hand.

As he answers straightforward questions, he weaves in little bits of life smarts he’s learned along the way during his 72 years — bits of wisdom that have helped him create loving relationships, lifelong friendships, recognition in construction business across America and a seemingly consistent image as the guy with a smile who savors life.

Knestrick emphasizes his successes haven’t happen just to him and because of him alone — he uses the word “we” a lot.

The latest on the list of accomplishments is the induction to the Nashville Public Schools Hall of Fame next month.

“I was a true little nerd who just loved my high school art teacher,” Knestrick said, interrupting himself with laughter. He’s a 1955 Hillsboro High School graduate, an engineer by trade and a watercolor painter by passion.

“When you’re in school, you have to have little successes. My little successes came by getting on the tennis team. Even though it wasn’t popular, I also stood out because of my art, and it made me feel good. You build on those little, small successes and that’s what makes you successful.”

The Hall of Fame recognizes accomplished Nashvillians from all walks of life “for whom public education made a difference,” said Pam Garrett, executive director of the Nashville Alliance for Public Education, a nonprofit behind the Hall of Fame.

“Walter has been an extraordinary businessperson in this community,” Garrett said.

“He’s an engineer and a contractor but also a very accomplished artist. He is both, and he could be either, at any time. Civically, everywhere you look, he’s contributing, doing things.”

Knestrick grew up on 12th Avenue South, in the house occupied now by The Frothy Monkey coffee shop, he said. He learned how to ride his bicycle on the alley behind it and made frequent trips on his bike to see his neighborhood friend Charles “Red” Grooms, a painter who lives in New York City.

Knestrick has maintained a lifelong friendship with Grooms, he said, collected his works of art and even published a book about him.

In 1954, a year before high school graduation, both men became the youngest members ever admitted to the Tennessee Art league. While in high school, the duo entered scores of art competitions, and Knestrick won a scholarship to the Chicago Institute of Art.

Instead, he enrolled at Vanderbilt University.

“My daddy decided that he wanted me to go to the engineering school at Vanderbilt,” Knestrick said.

“I didn’t find out until four or five years ago that I’m dyslexic. Of course I knew that I couldn’t spell and memorize things. History and English were really hard for me. I finally got into my junior and senior year into civil engineering, and engineering is dyslexic’s best friend. I could blow out math and I also could do the designing because it didn’t have anything to do with reading,” he said, cracking up laughing.

He went on to work as an engineer for one year and in 1969 started his own construction firm Knestrick Contractor, Inc.

“When I started the construction company, I had five children under 7 years old, three in diaper,” he said.

“People would say: ‘My Gosh, you had a great job. You were making $35,000 a year. Why would you leave that to start a company with very little money?’ It was because that’s what I wanted to do. You have to accept that challenge, whether you’re going to succeed or not.”

He has. Since 1969, the company, now operated by his son and licensed in 28 states, has built a wide range of structures in Nashville, from the East police precinct to additions at the University School of Nashville. The man himself was recognized as a leader in commercial and construction development with the Development Legacy Award from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties in 2004, the year he retired.

Alongside his full-time job, though, Knestrick has also cultivated his passion for painting. He’s never sold a piece, he said. Instead, Knestrick donates his works of art to be auctioned off at charitable events.

Ideally, he said, he likes to paint on 22-by-30-inch canvas and “use my imagination and really get into it.”

But his love for the arts has carried his beyond his studio. He’s the past chairman of Cheekwood’s Fine Arts Committee, Tennessee State Museum Foundation and the Tennessee Arts Commission.

“Walter has a certain spirit about him that’s infectious, and he lives life,” said Rich Boyd, executive director at the Tennessee Arts Commission, who’s known Knestrick since the 1980s.

“He’s brought energy and vitality to the commission. Walter was very active in the (Gov. Don) Sandquist campaign so he opened some doors during that administration that we have not always been able to get into within state government.”

He’s also one of three commissioners at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film.

“His involvement has been critical to Watkins, especially in terms of leading the fundraising effort for our campus,” said Cathy Snyder, vice president for institutional advancement at the school.

“He’s our biggest community advocate we could ever have. … He’s thoughtful, funny, extremely creative and passionate about this institution. He’s just a wonderful person.”

He’s also humble and deflects attention from himself to others — his Hillsboro High School classmates, for example, and their accolades: one performs eye transplants, another takes photographs for National Geographic magazine.

“I’m honored to be inducted to any hall of fame, much less this one,” Knestrick said, laughing.

“I’m proud of this award because I hope that somehow, I can help kids in public schools understand that no matter what their background is — look at me — they can be successful. You don’t have to be born rich. You just have to decide what you want to do, have little successes and reach your main goal.”

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