Terry Blaine KNUTSON
KNUTSON, WAY, WALKER, MARTINEZ, SURANO, LARABEE, STUMPO, AINGER
Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/20/2012 at 17:44:32
February 6, 1942 --- March 9, 2012
Terry Blaine Knutson, 70
"AKA Terry Teen"Memorial services for Terry Knutson, 70, Tyler, are scheduled for 7:00 PM, Monday, March 12 at Trinity Baptist Church, Tyler, TX. Visitation will be at 6:30 PM, prior to services. Mr. Knutson passed away on March 9, 2012 in Tyler. Terry Blaine Knutson was born February 6, 1942 in Ft. Dodge, Iowa to Kermit Enoch Knutson and June Rose Way Knutson. He had lived in Tyler since 2003, living previously in Eagle Grove, IA and Granada Hills, CA. He was a member of Tyler Court of Magic and the Fellowship of Christian Entertainers. Mayor Ryerdon of Los Angeles named a day after him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patti Walker, father, Kermit Knutson and brother, Ricky Eugene Knutson. Survivors include his children, Christena Marie Martinez Surano Larabee, Ricky Knutson, Dena Walker and Kelly Walker; mother, June Rose Knutson, Eagle Grove, IA; sisters, Sharon Rose Stumpo, Pasadena, CA and Barbara Jean Ainger, Eagle Grove, IA; brother, Ronald Dean Knutson, Tyler; 2 grandchildren, Jose Joshua Martinez and Sarah Larabee. If desired, memorials can be made to the Fellowship of Christian Entertainers or Goodwill Industries of Tyler. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove, Iowa.
***************************
By Shaley Sanders and Kerri Compton
TYLER, TX (KLTV) - Tyler Police said Terry Knutson, of Tyler, died Friday night as a result of injuries he sustained in a crash on Wednesday. Accident investigators said Knutson failed to yield the right of way when entering the roadway. No charges were filed in this case. The Tyler man who was struck by a tow truck Wednesday night had a "showbiz" past according to Wikipedia and several other internet sources.
Terry Knutson, who also went by the name Terry Teene claims to have helped create the character of Ronald McDonald, together with George Voorhees, although this is disputed by the McDonald corporation, according to Wikipedia. He recently told a member of our news staff he was the original Ronald McDonald. According to Wikipedia he also recorded 300 songs, starting back in 1960, with "Curse of the Hearse", being perhaps his most famous, being played by Dr. Demento on the majority of his Halloween shows. Terry is known for his career as a clown. He has performed under the names of "ToBo the Clown" and "Clownzo". In January he gave a member of our staff a business card advertising himself as "Clownzo" and said he lived in southeast Tyler, very near the scene of Wednesday night's accident.
According to Wikipedia Knutson aka Teene also appeared in numerous films and in concerts with Alice Cooper, Nazareth, Flo and Eddie, the Kinks and more.
Released by The Tyler Police Department:
UPDATE: The bicyclist that was injured last night on Troup Highway is identified as Terry Knutson of Tyler. As of Thursday, March 08, 2012 at 8:20 a.m. he is listed in Critical Condition at East Texas Medical Center.
A 70-year-old East Texas bicyclist was hit by a tow truck Wednesday evening. This accident happened off of Troup Hwy near Shiloh Rd around 8:20 p.m. in Tyler. We spoke to the owner of Campbell's Towing and Recovery who tells us his driver was heading southbound on 110 when the bicyclist pulled out of a parking lot and into the middle lane. The owner told us the driver tried to brake, but did not have enough time. Tyler police said the bicyclist is in critical condition and was taken to a local hospital by EMS. Authorities say due to the severity of the bicyclist's injuries, accident investigators, Major Crimes and crime scene investigators will continue to investigate this crash. The name of the 70-year-old bicyclist will be withheld until his relatives are notified.
http://www.kltv.com/story/17106557/pedestrian-hit-by-18-wheeler
*******************
The 70-year-old man, known locally as "Clownzo," died Friday night from injuries he suffered in a traffic accident earlier this week, police said.Terry Knutson was on a bicycle at the intersection of Troup Highway and Shiloh Road about 8:20 p.m. Wed-nesday when he collided with a tow truck, police spokesman Don Martin has said.
In a police statement issued Friday night, police said after investigating the crash, accident investigators determined that Knutson was at fault for failing to yield the right of way when entering the roadway on his bicycle from a private driveway.
No charges have been filed in this case.
Knutson once performed under the name Terry Teene and had a 1960s novelty hit called "Curse of the Hearse." Locally, he attended special events, birthdays and other parties as "Clownzo."
Knutson recorded more than 300 songs, recorded under 70 different names and claimed to have helped create the character of Ronald McDonald, together with George Voorhees, although this was disputed by McDonald's Corp., according to various Internet sources.
Throughout his career, he made stage appearances with the likes of Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Sha Na Na, Bobby Vee and was with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens just hours before their deaths.
Knutson performed as a clown under the names of "ToBo the Clown" and "Clownzo" and was president of the Cavalcade of Clowns, an association of professional clowns and related entertainers, from 1978 to 1980.
Wright Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen