It’s a milestone that speaks volumes about family, faith, and small-town commitment. WRMJ recently welcomed Dave and Jackie McKnight into the studio—pillars of the Aledo community and proud parents whose children have spanned more than four decades of local education.
The occasion? Their youngest, Jack, will graduate from Mercer County High School this month, marking the end of an extraordinary run: 44 consecutive years with a McKnight child in the Aledo or Mercer County school system.
A familiar face in town, Dave celebrated 50 years as a registered pharmacist in 2024. His career began just down the street at Babcock Pharmacy in 1971. “If you would have told me in 1969 that I’d live in Aledo and love it, I’d have said you were crazy,” Dave said with a laugh. “But I do love it here.”
After the loss of his first wife Ruth in 1989, Dave eventually found love again with Jackie—who playfully reminded him on-air that she proposed to him. They were married in 1991, blending families and building a legacy that now includes seven children and, soon, ten grandchildren.
Jackie, a fellow pharmacist and former Eli Lilly sales rep, now splits her time between MercyOne Genesis locations in Aledo and Davenport. Together, she and Dave have been a steady presence behind the counter at McKnight Pharmacy, even as they juggled sports schedules, school activities, and the ever-shifting dynamics of a growing household.
Their lineup of graduates tells its own story:
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Jenny, Class of 1994
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Emily, Class of 1996
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Ben, Class of 2001
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Christina, Class of 2012
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Mark, Class of 2019
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Monica, Class of 2022
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Jack, Class of 2025
Their daughter Jenny inspired the celebration, pointing out the family’s incredible run through the local school system. But beyond the dates, it’s the memories that matter: sick days spent at the pharmacy, kids sneaking out of basement windows, and the chaos of managing daily life with seven children.
“When the kids got sick, I’d just bring them to the pharmacy,” Dave shared. “They still remember lying on the couch up in the balcony watching movies.”
And now, as the last McKnight heads to Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, the couple is reflecting on what comes next—balancing elder care for Jackie’s mother at home, cheering on Jack’s collegiate cross country career, and hopefully enjoying a bit of well-earned travel.
Through it all, the McKnights have remained grounded in their mission: to raise happy, fulfilled children. “That’s all you really want as a parent,” Dave said. “To see them doing what they love, and living well.”
Jackie added, “We’ve been blessed with a tight-knit family. All the kids are close, and that’s what matters most.”
With no McKnight ever having worked behind the WRMJ board—yet—the door is still open. But for now, we salute a remarkable family whose story is woven deep into the heart of Mercer County.
Congratulations, Dave and Jackie, on a legacy well lived and still unfolding.