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South Carolina Legislature
South Carolina Legislature

Former Senator John Milton "Jake" Knotts, Jr.

Home County: LEXINGTON

Senate District 23 - Lexington

House District 88 - Lexington

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

Sponsored Bills in the Senate

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Sponsored Bills in the House

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Voting Record

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