Career
Knicely started out as an apprentice linotype operator at The News-Virginian. In 1957, he relocated to Glasgow, Kentucky as the president, editor and publisher of the Glasgow Daily Times. He also held interests in several newspapers all over Kentucky and was part owner of a weekly newspaper in Westmoreland, Tennessee.
Knicely served as president of the Kentucky Press Association and president of the Kentucky Journalism Foundation.
Under his leadership, the Glasgow Daily Times was named by the Kentucky Press Association as the best newspaper in its class in 1967. Knicely was a supporter of, where he served on the board of regents beginning in 1976.
He was instrumental in the success of the university"s nationally known journalism department. Knicely was a philanthropist, donating large sums of money to the Institute for Economic Development and Public Service at the University and to establish the Knicely Professorship in Leadership Studies and to create the Knicely Endowment, a permanent support fund to maintain and upgrade the Institute.
The Carroll Knicely Conference Center at "s Bowling Green campus is named in his honor.
Knicely served as Commerce secretary under Democratic governors Julian Carroll, Martha Layne Collins and Wallace G. Wilkinson. While serving in the state"s Commerce Cabinet as commissioner, he helped secure the location of the General Motors Corvette plant in Bowling Green in 1981. Later, as commerce secretary, he was instrumental in bringing the Toyota plant to Georgetown, Kentucky in 1985.
