Austin Knox has a thorough knowledge of the Wayne Township’s trustee operation having hired in as an investigator and then being promoted twice, first to Director of Support Services and then to Chief Deputy Trustee under Richard A. Stevenson. Before that he worked in special needs at Fort Wayne Community Schools while finishing his degree in political science.
Trustee Knox graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in 2010 and then went on to study at Trine University where he played wide-receiver for the Trine Thunder. After experiencing his third concussion he made the difficult choice to give up football and focus on his studies. He transferred to and then graduated from IPFW in 2015.
Sports and education have formed Mr. Knox’s approach to his work at Wayne Township. Born to Ron and Karen Knox, both public school educators, Austin and his siblings Arin and Andrew grew up immersed in learning. Grandfather Tom Knox was a well-known basketball referee in Fort Wayne who instilled sportsman-like values in his grandchildren. The sports background is reflected in Austin’s team-building approach to his supervision of the Wayne Township staff.
As someone who came up through the ranks, Mr. Knox is respected for his fairness and his deep understanding of the work done at the township. In his first staff meeting as trustee, he emphasized that every employee is equally valuable to the operation and deserves the same respect as every other employee. As deputy trustee, he was also known for his willingness to pitch in wherever help was needed. For example, to save the township money he led a team of staff and workfare members who did much of the manual labor tearing out and replacing the well-established shrubbery along the north face of the township office building.
Mr. Knox, like his predecessor, is detail-oriented and fueled by a desire to research and understand the law and the Indiana Township Association guidelines before finalizing decisions.
Most of all Trustee Knox cares about the people of Wayne Township, both those in need and those who help. “We first want to help those who need it, but we also never forget that it is taxpayer’s money we are responsible for,” he says.