Terry was born on August 28, 1957 to James and Mary Knotts in Shreveport, LA. He knew he wanted to be a Policeman as young as age three. Immediately after graduating from Dunbar High School in 1976, he joined the U.S. Army. He was a Military Policeman until he was honorably discharged in 1979. Right after that, Terry was hired by the Lafayette Police Department in Lafayette, LA and worked as a police officer until 1982 when he moved to Lubbock. He spent the rest of his law enforcement career with the Lubbock Police Department until he retired as a Motor Sergeant in 2014, after serving the citizens of this city for 31 years. During his years at LPD, he worked in many different specialized divisions. He was a Motor Sergeant, Patrol Sergeant, Mobile Field Force sergeant, Firearms Instructor, Bike Patrol Sergeant, TCLEOSE instructor, Side-Handle Baton Instructor, Academy instructor, Field Training Officer, Patrol Corporal, Special Duty Detective Corporal, and Patrol officer. He believed in officer safety. He would always say “You have to survive the job to do the job” and “Be a SheepDog.” See the following link for a clip from youtube.
https://youtu.be/TiEiZHVQX8A
On June 21, 2000, Terry married his best and most beautiful wife, Ifan Chen. During their 16-1/2 years of marriage, theyhave a very ornery dog named Krissy. One of the biggest reasons Ifan loves Terry so much is because Terry was the greatest Dad on earth! He loves his children: Michael, Kelley, Tucker, Melanie, and Marissa more than his own life. Terry had many passions in life: bicycle racing, playing his saxophone, motorcycle riding, working out, camping, washing and waxing his vehicles, polishing and shining his work boots, and making this city and country a safer place for all of us.
Survivors include his wife, Dr. Ifan Chen Knotts, children, Lt. Michael Terry Knotts and wife, Melanie; Kelley Lynn Knotts; and Tucker Garrett Knotts and wife, Marissa; mother, Mary Evelyn Knotts; siblings, Michael Denis Knotts; James Randall Knotts and wife, Lisa Wisdom; Rhonda Suzette Blacklock and husband, Larry; grandchildren, Jordan, Jaden, and Hailey Knotts. He is also survived by his grand-dog Bonnie, and a grand-cat Allie. He was preceded in death by his father, James Norman Knotts. Terry L. Knotts became a warrior in Heaven on Friday, December 16, 2016.