Obituary of Knox Winfred Askins

Knox Winfred Askins, 86, of La Porte, Texas passed away peacefully on June 13, 2024 following a short illness.  Knox was a practicing attorney in La Porte for 54 years and served as La Porte City Attorney for 51 years until his retirement in 2016.  He served two terms as President of the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce and was a past President of La Porte Rotary Club where he was recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow and recently honored for 60 years active membership.  Knox also served on the Board of Directors of the former Bayshore National Bank.  In 1973, he was appointed as Vice Chairman of the newly created Houston Area Mass Transit Authority (HART) which would later become Houston METRO.  He also lectured on Municipal Law at the University of Houston Law Center.

Knox was born in Houston on July 19, 1937, and raised in Brenham, Texas.  He had an early interest in journalism and radio and worked during his high school years as an announcer for KWHI Radio in Brenham and worked for the Brenham Banner-Press.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in radio-television from the University of Houston in 1958.  During school he worked as a writer for the UH Cougar school paper.  It was also during this time that he met the love of his life, Ann Thomas, and the two were married in September of 1958. 

Knox worked briefly in television production for KPRC and KUHT in Houston before deciding on a career as an attorney.   He earned his law degree from University of Houston Law Center in 1962, where he was elected to the Order of the Barons legal honor society and received the W St. John Garwood award.  He then moved his growing family to La Porte to begin his law practice and was appointed La Porte City Attorney on June 30, 1965. 

A strong Christian, Knox was active in ministry for over 40 years.  He quietly donated legal services to many churches and ministries and was a strong supporter of missions.  He was also active in La Porte men’s prayer breakfast right up to his passing. 

Knox was an avid reader and loved to learn new things.  He had a unique ability to identify with people of all walks of life.  He loved baseball, classical music and opera.

Knox was pre-deceased by his loving wife of 62 years, Ann Thomas Askins; his parents, E.J. Askins and Geneva Rulison Askins; and one brother, Robert “Bobby” Askins.

He is survived by his six children, Diane Zachry and husband Earl; Suzanne Neufeld; Sally Askins; James Askins and wife Wendy; Paul Askins; Clark Askins and wife Shauna.

He is further survived by ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at Clayton Funeral Home of La Porte on Wednesday June 19 at 10:00 a.m.,  with interment at La Porte Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to La Porte Rotary Scholarship fund or the charity of your choice.