Mississippi State University sophomore electrical engineering major Daniel Larry Knox, 19, died Sept. 21 at his residence in Starkville.
Originally from Amory, Daniel was a member of ROTC at MSU and was looking forward to a career in the United States Air Force.
Daniel’s father, Larry Knox, said when Daniel was involved in something, he committed 110 percent.
“He really enjoyed being part of the ROTC program,” Larry said. “He would always volunteer to help if they needed something and was always participating in things with the program.”
As a child, Daniel was fascinated by fireworks, which lead him into wanting to go into the Explosive Ordinance Division of the Air Force, Larry said.
“When Daniel was about 10 or 11 years old, there was a knock on the front door, and it was the police,” he said. “They had caught Daniel and his friends trying to light the sidewalk on fire with gasoline. That is just how much he enjoyed that kind of stuff.”
When Daniel was younger, he was always entertaining to the rest of the family, Larry said.
“It’s hard to find a photo of Daniel where he wasn’t acting goofy or making a funny face,” he said. “He was always getting into something or doing something crazy.”
Daniel was largely involved with First Baptist Church and participated in mission trips, most recently to Honduras, to work with an orphanage, Larry said.
“Daniel had a heart for people,” he said. “He loved children, and kids loved him, too.”
Daniel had three siblings; his youngest little sister was adopted from China.
“Daniel was so excited when we adopted his little sister,” Larry said. “She meant the world to him.”
At MSU, Daniel was also involved with the Baptist Student Union. In high school, he was involved with the band and on the swim team.
Trent Harmon, Daniel’s longtime friend, said many people didn’t know that Daniel was musically talented.
“He was the best guitar player I knew, personally,” he said. “He did not tell anyone he played, but he could have been a musician if he wanted.”
One thing that stood out about Daniel was his ability to create anything, Harmon said.
“He could have been an inventor of anything,” he said. “I remember one time he made a gun silencer out of cardboard and a bottle in like 30 minutes and it worked.”
Harmon said Daniel was one of the smartest guys he has ever known and he was laid back about everything.
“Daniel waited until the last ACT test he could take before it would be too late to take it,” Harmon said. “And he walked in and I realized my calculator went dead and he just gave me his and said he didn’t need it. And he ended up making a great score without even having a calculator.”
Daniel was giving and would do anything for anyone, Harmon said.
“He was a good guy,” he said. “If I called him and told him I ran out of gas on the side of the road, he wouldn’t even think about it and he would get in his car and come get me.”
Not only was Daniel a good person, but he was also funny, Blake McCollum, a friend of Daniel’s, said.
“No matter what he did, even if he wasn’t trying to be funny, it was funny,” he said. “He was hilarious. He is probably one of the funniest people I’ve ever met in my life.”
Daniel, Harmon and McCollum were good friends in high school and used to always find something to do to get in trouble, Harmon said.
Harmon said one night he and Daniel did not have anything to do, so they went to Walmart and bought farmer’s glue.
“We poured the glue all across the street and hid in the ditch and caught the road on fire when we saw a car coming,” he said. “It was really funny until a car came and turned its blue lights on — it was a state trooper, so we got in a lot of trouble.”
Larry said Daniel always found something to get into, but he was a kind, loving person and loved deeply.
“He was pretty independent and he was busy and wasn’t one to come home every weekend, but we always enjoyed when he came to visit us,” he said. “We are a very strong and religious family and we have a great time as a family and we are enjoying getting to remember the 19 years we had with Daniel.”