Ted Knight Greeted By Thousands

TERRYVILLE - An entire community embraced a famous son Saturday as "Ted Knight Day" was observed by proclamation of Selectman Walter K. Lassy Jr.

During the afternoon thousands of residents lined Terryville's Main Street to wave and shout "hello" to Knight, who stars on television's Mary Tyler Moore Show as Ted Baxter.

A welcome worthy of a hero was extended individually, as well as in a body, by all those who saw and spoke with Knight during his four­day stay in Terryville. Numerous times residents walked up to Knight to shake his hand, congratulate him on his success, and welcome him back to town. Knight and various residents talked for a few moments of days spent in Terryville long ago.

Everyone was apparently a friend of Knight, the former Tadeus Konopka. Many times the two ­time Emmy Award winner asked if he'd see certain individuals, such as Fire Chief Charlie Freimuth, while speaking with other Terryville people. His apparent warmth and concern, wrapped up with old ­fashioned honest friendliness, added to making his return and event to remember.

The feelings of many towns people about Knight were summarized at the testimonial dinner Saturday night by Helen Grabowski, chairwoman of the event, who said, "Hearts swell with pride . . . to welcome back our home­town boy made good." Three times Knight was given a standing ovation by the crowd of more than 500 who dressed in their finery to honor him. At one point, he curtailed his comments because he was simply overcome with emotion.

[TOWN'S KEY PRESENTED TO TED KNIGHT: Terryville persons honored their own past resident, Ted Knight, during a testimonial dinner in the high school Saturday night. One of the highlights of the evening was a proclamation written by Selectman Walter K. Lassy, Jr. stating June 12, 1976 as Ted Knight Day in Plymouth and the presenting of a key of Plymouth to the television award winner. Pictured are from l to r: Tostmaster Henry Kornacki, old school buddy of the star, Selectman Lassy, Ted Knight and chairperson of the dinner, Helen Grabowski.]

Selectman Walter R. Lassy, Jr. read a proclamation designating Saturday as "Ted Knight Day" and then handed a gold plaque with the key to the city to Knight. The selectman said Saturday was "the most momentous day" of his seven year administration.

Toastmaster Henry Kornacki, who was a close friend of Knight when he was a youngster growing up in Terryville, related anecdotes about Knight as a child. Kornacki talked about when and where Knight first met his wife, Dorothy, and reminisced about "the good old days."

Major George Cyr, also a native of Terryville represented Governor Ella Grasso at the dinner and said he "literally jumped at the chance" to be at the dinner with Knight.

J. Francis Ryan, chairman of the Plymouth Bicentennial Committee and president of the Lock Museum of America, gave a set of Bicentennial coins to the actor, along with a necklace for his wife. Rev. Stephen Ptaszynski of St. Casimir's Church presented a Holy Bible to Knight with an inscription from the parishioners of his first church. The Women's Guild of St Casimir's, which sponsored the dinner, had a tray engraved with a picture of Knight's home in Terryville.

Parade chariman Edwin Chmieleski shed light on Knight's lesser-known past achievements in noting that the actor received five battle stars during his Army service in World War II. Ted Konopka was in one of the first troops to enter Berlin and was an active member of the town's veterans groups.

Thomas Hennesy, curator of Terryville's Lock Museum of America, presented Knight with a key from the local establishment. Knight has consented to be honorary chairman of the national fund drive to build a new museum in the center of Terryville. The performer has offered his services to make the drive successful. A solid bronze casting was given by the O.Z. Gedney Company, and a limited­edition Bicentennial Clock by Seth Thomas Manufacturing Company was presented to Knight by Miss Grabowski.

Knight, coming across as a "very real" person from the small community of Terryville, said "thank you's" to all. Although the occasion was held solely in his honor, Knight called upon the owner of the Terryville Furniture Company, Harry Simone, who Knight believed should be recognized "for all he's done for Terryville." Simone said the town "deserves everything it has gotten . . . everything came the hard way" and added that Knight has "put Terryville on the map."