Don Knotts, 81

Friends Remember Don Knotts: Morgantown Native Leaves Behind Legacy
Story by Katherine Jones

When Don Knotts was born on July 21, 1924, no one knew he would later leave behind such a legacy. A boulevard in Morgantown carries his name for miles. Every year there's a week-long festival created to honor his success.

All of this, to acknowledge a man people came to know and love as Deputy Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show. "I'll miss him I will he's going to be missed, he's going to be missed by Morgantown," says Jack Feck, a long time friend of Knotts.

Monongalia County Commissioner, John Pyles, recalls the legend. "Don was always taking about Morgantown and the people that he knew."

Don Knotts graduated from Morgantown High School in 1942. Pyles was one of the people behind dedicating a boulevard to Knotts. As someone who knew Knotts outside of show business, Pyles calls the actor an inspiration.

"He went to Morgantown High School, he showed that someone could come up through the schools of Monongalia County and go to WVU and make it in show business," said Pyles.

Whether it's driving down Don Knotts Boulevard or catching a glimpse of Knotts in his early days of television, people will remember one of Don Knott's greatest accomplishments, becoming a man that Morgantown could come to know as our their own.

Pyles says, "He was Morgantown's favorite son."