User:9H48F/sandbox/Knowlton

update to Austin Eldon Knowlton to include sources

Austin "Dutch" Eldon Knowlton (July 23, 1909 – June 25, 2003) was an architect, businessman, and part owner of the Cincinnati Reds

Biography
In 1927, Knowlton graduated from Bellefontaine High School.

Knowlton graduated from the Ohio State University in 1931 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering. In 1937, he became the chairman of the Knowlton Construction Co. in Bellefontaine, Ohio, which was started by his father. His company worked on over 600 major construction projects throughout the midwest including schools, hospitals and libraries. In 1995, he was awarded a doctorate of architecture from Ohio State.

In 1967, Knowlton was the majority shareholder with 30% of the Cincinnati Bengals along with Paul Brown and others and later served as chairman. That same year, Knowlton gained a majority interest in the Cincinnati Reds, purchasing 15% from William O. DeWitt, Jr. to total 29%. He was also a trustee of the Little Brown Jug Society for harness racing in Delaware, Ohio.

In 1981, Knowlton established The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation to promote and advance higher education.

Personal life
In 1971, Knowlton divorced his first wife and his three children became estranged.

Legacy
Austin Knowlton died on June 25, 2003.

As an alumni, he pledged $10 million for the Ohio State School of Architecture, known as Knowlton Hall, in 1994 and later $6 million in 1996 which was in litigation after his death in 2003. After Knowlton's death, two of his three children from his first marriage claimed the will was a forgery after being left out of the will. It was believed to be the largest probate case ever with an estimated net of between $42 and $300 million. In 2007, the will was ruled legitimate and a large portion of the money went to his foundation, including his share of the Bengals.

Austin E. Knowlton Foundation has made dozens of donations to educational institutions many of which bear his name, including the Ohio State University, College of Wooster, Augustana College, Otterbein University, and Oberlin College.