John Leo Knott, past owner of a successful Baltimore renovation and remodeling firm and founding father of ABC, died Feb.19 at the age of 94.  Knott also served as ABC national chairman in 1960.  

“John Knott, and his brother Charles, were two of the original founders of ABC and their shared vision of starting a group to defend the right of merit shop construction contractors to do business in all markets has grown from a local affiliation of seven companies to an organization that serves 25,000 companies,” said ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel.  “John’s leadership sixty years ago has left a legacy that is still felt in the construction industry today and the ABC family deeply mourns his loss.”  

Knott served in World War II in both the Army and Navy before joining his father’s construction firm in 1946.  Seven years later, he established the Henry A. Knott Remodeling Co., as a separate historical renovation and remodeling division, and helped restore the State House and governor’s mansion in Annapolis, Md.  

In addition to ABC, Knott served on the Better Business Bureau board of directors for 25 years and on the Home Improvement Commission of Maryland, which he helped create, for 20 years.  

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor retirement home, 601 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, Md., 21228 or Gilchrist Hospice, 11311 McCormick Road, Ste. 350, Hunt Valley, Md., 21031.