Personal Information

• Full-time Legislator/Retired Law Enforcement and Deputy Coroner, Lexington County
• Residing in West Columbia
• Born December 1944 in West Columbia
• Son of John Milton, Sr. and Dovereen Jessie (Williams) Knotts
• 1965 married Betty Bodie, 2 children, Nikki Rogers and Tara Grigsby
• Palmer College, Associates, Criminal Justice, 1974
• Midlands Technical College, Associates, Corrections Administration, 1975
• Associates, Police Science, 1975
• Drug Enforcement Administration, 1976
• FBI Prosecutor School, 1976
• Advanced FBI Prosecutors Investigator School, 1977
• FBI Academy-Class 111, 1977
• Masters in Firearms, FBI, 1977
• University of South Carolina, B.A., 1982
• Firearms Instructor, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), 1989
• Certified CWP Firearms Instructor, 1996-
• Served in law enforcement beginning as a beat patrolman, Columbia Police Department, Columbia, South Carolina, 1968
• Riot Squad, 1969
• Coordinator Special Units, 1970
• Narcotics & Vice Detective, 1970
• Major Crime Investigator, 1974
• Chief Investigator, 5th Judicial Circuit, 1975
• Special Investigator Grand Jury, 1975
• Formed Fugitive Squad, White Collar Crime Division, 1976
• Lexington County Deputy Coroner, 1988-95
• Chambers Dev. Co. Southern Region, Director Corporate Security, 1988-1995
• Chairman, West Columbia Planning Commission, 1978-79
• Chairman, Post 79 Boys State American Legion
• Mason
• 40 & 8 Legionnaire
• Civil Process Services, 1990-
• South Carolina House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee, 1995-02
• South Carolina House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee Special Laws Subcommittee, 1995
• South Carolina House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee Criminal Law Subcommittee, 1995-02
• South Carolina House of Representatives, Rules Committee, 1998-02
• Public Safety Coordinating Council, 1995-
• Sentencing Guidelines Commission, 1995 and 1996
• South Carolina House of Representatives Freshman Legislator of the Year, 1996
• Elected to the South Carolina Senate April 23, 2002
• South Carolina Senate Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee, 2002-
• South Carolina Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee, 2002-
• South Carolina Senate General Committee, 2002-
• South Carolina Senate Invitations Committee, 2002-, Chairman, 2006-
• South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee, 2002-
• South Carolina Senate Rules Committee, 2002-
• Public Safety Coordinating Council, 2002-
• Committee on Screening of Boards and Commission, 2003-
• South Carolina Troopers Association
• James M. Smith Award, Gun Owners of South Carolina, 1995
• Champion of Housing Award, South Carolina Home Builders Association, 1998-99
• Lexington County Sheriff's Award, 2001
• Grassroots Gun Rights Guardian, 2001-02
• American Legion of South Carolina Service Award, 2002
• South Carolina Sheriff's Association Legislator of the Year, 2002
• South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association Legislator of the Year, 2002
• South Carolina Solicitors Association, Legislator of the Year, 2006
• Friend of the Taxpayer, 2006
• Outstanding Service to Victims of Crime, Legislator of the Year Award, 2006
• South Carolina Dental Hygiene Association, Legislator of the Year Award, 2006
• South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, Senator of the Year Award, 2006
• Golden Advocate Award by the Solicitors Association, 2007
• South Carolina Chiropractic Association Legislator of the Year, 2007
• South Carolina Crime Victims Award, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2007
• South Carolina Coroner's Association Legislator of the Year, 2008
• Injured Workers' Advocates' "Friend of the Little Man" Award, 2008
• Support & Leadership Award for Excellence in Education, South Carolina Association of School Administrators
• 2008-2009 South Carolina EMS Association's Legislator of the Year
• Strom Thurmond Monument Commission
• Startec Security, Director of Corporate Develpoment, Southern Region, 2005-
• Certificate of Appreciation awarded by Native American Pow Wow
• Vietnam Veteran
• United States Navy, 1964-68, enlisted