Robert Craig Knievel

1938 - 2007

In 1977 I moved to Los Angeles to attend acting school at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. While looking for a permanent place to rent, I lived at the Universal Sheraton in Universal City, California. At that time, Evel Knievel (and Telly Savalas) also resided there. I befriended a man named Kenny Bates (still friends!) who was a friend of Evels'. I met Evel and his mishmash of friends thru Kenny.

It was during that time that Evel had the now famous altercation with Sheldon Saltman. We use to all hang out in the bar downstairs formerly known as "The Portuguese Lounge". I will never forget the barrage of reporters calling and showing up. Evel was very upset about things that Saltman had written and made no bones about sharing his fury over it. I was only 21 years old at the time and must confess that I was in awe of all the commotion surrounding us at that time.

Evel hired me to do some typing for him. (I was not a typist. He was very generous at times and was giving me a chance to make a couple of bucks.) He was planning a new jump he called "Operation Giant Step". The letter was to a gentleman named Captain Perry. (I still have the handwritten letter that Evel gave me to type from.) I remember sitting in his suite trying so hard to type the letter perfectly.

I have so many good memories of Evel. One day Evel invited me to watch him film a guest spot on The Bionic Woman. He patiently sat on his motorcycle that was on a trailer being pulled as they filmed. He was gruff in demeanor but Evel had a soft spot that would shine thru at times. There were many groupies around Evel vying for his attention. Women that would throw themselves on him. Evel understood and respected the fact that I would not cross the line of friendship as he was a married man.

I will never forget when Evel was on "work release" for the assault on Sheldon Saltman. He arranged to have limos pick up the other work release prisoners and take them to work! (The judge put a stop to that eventually.)

In later years, I kept up with Evel through Kenny. Kenny was still an active part of Evel and Robbie's (his son) life. Over the years, I have prayed for Evel. I was extremely excited and relieved when I heard about Evel's conversion to Christ. He appeared on the "Hour of Power" and was baptized by Robert Schuller at The Crystal Cathedral Church. Because of his testimony, reportably 500 to 800 people either committed or rededicated their lives to Christ that day.  I know that his family must take great comfort in the fact that he is with the Lord and that they will one day see him again. I will bet that he is charging down the streets of gold right now!

Please stop by and visit the official Evel Knievel website www.evelknievel.com and keep his family in prayer.

If you are in the area, plan to attend Evel Knievel Days in Butte, Montana. Get all the details at www.knievelweek.com.

Most importantly, click on the link "Hour of Power" (here or above) to see Evel's greatest eternal achievement.