Knox College Chair of the Board of Trustees Tony Etz, 64, passed away on March 10, 2025. Etz was a member of the Class of 1983 and a fourth-generation Knox alumnus, following his great-grandfather, John Murphy, Class of 1900; grandfather Robert Murphy ’31, a longtime member and former chair of the Board of Trustees; and his uncle Jim Murphy ’82.
Etz joined the Knox College Board of Trustees as a General Trustee in 2016, and served as chair of the former Campus Life & Athletics Committee and the Presidential Search Committee that brought C. Andrew McGadney to Knox College as its 20th president in 2021. He was elected chair of the Board of Trustees in July 2021.
“Knox College has lost a true champion of the institution, its community, and its transformative education,” said Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney. “As chair of the presidential search committee that brought me to Knox in 2021, Tony was one of the first members of the Knox community that I met and was integral in my decision to join the Knox community. His enthusiasm for the power of a liberal arts education was infectious. As a fourth-generation legacy, his knowledge of Knox history was immense, and his approach to leadership—clear-eyed, dynamic, and mission-driven—was inspiring.”
Etz transferred to Knox during his sophomore year, stating that “it was the key that fit my lock.” At Knox, he strongly connected with members of the Department of English and, ultimately, chose English as his major. He was also involved in Union Board, the College’s student event planning committee, and Catch, Knox’s award-winning student literary magazine, serving as an editor on the 1983 edition that received the prestigious National Program Directors’ Prize from the Associated Writers and Writing Programs.
Following his graduation from Knox, Etz attended the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, one of the nation’s top writing programs. After earning his M.F.A., Etz moved to New York for a stint working in the film business. He then moved to California to produce television movies and miniseries but wanted a career change. He landed at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in Los Angeles in 1995 as an agent and, most recently, co-head of packaging. Over the course of his successful 30-year career at CAA, Etz represented talent and packaged television shows. He also taught media classes as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California.
Over the course of his service to Knox, Etz was known for his dedication to the mission and success of the College, his deep appreciation for faculty and students, and an insightful and direct approach to leadership, along with a playful sense of humor, that has helped the Board lead the College as it works quickly to address current challenges, meet its mission, and rise to its full potential.
“Connecting with people and instantly making them feel like friends defined Tony Etz. His drive to help shape minds, open hearts, and create dialogue will define his legacy. Tony leaves this world better than he found it,” shared General Trustee Adam Vitale, who joined the Board of Trustees with Etz in 2016.
Trustee Laura Rosene ’90 also shared, “Tony’s deep love for Knox was palpable. He was always delighted to connect with current students, listening to them and helping them find success. I will also never forget his wit and pop culture references that always brought a moment of levity to our gatherings. Tony was a true friend and will leave a true legacy in leading the search committee that brought President McGadney to Knox and in his love and support for his alma mater. I will miss him.”
During his term as chair, Etz worked closely with President McGadney to launch a strategic planning framework, Our Strategy: A Bold and Ambitious Framework for Growth, refine the College’s five-year financial plan, invest in an enrollment growth plan that led to the third highest incoming class in Knox’s history, and launch the $175 million Venture Boldly comprehensive campaign, among other initiatives.
In spring 2024, Etz and his wife, Nancy, established the Etz Family Institute for Civic Leadership and Dialogue, created to enable students and faculty to question their own views and beliefs, collaborate with political adversaries, and develop—and debate—solutions for daunting local, national, and global issues. The Institute helps members of the Knox community build the skills and knowledge necessary to engage with people of differing viewpoints in service of the public good.
“The Etz Family Institute for Civic Leadership and Dialogue solidifies the Etz family’s enduring legacy to Knox College,” added President McGadney. “Nothing encapsulates the family’s dedication to Knox and faith in a transformative liberal arts education like their commitment to preparing our students to be engaged citizens of the world.”
Etz is survived by his wife, Nancy; his son, Alex; his brother, David; and his sisters Kathy and Sara.
Donations can be made in Tony’s memory to the Knox Fund at knox.edu/give or via mail to Office of Advancement, Knox College, Campus Box K230, 2 E South Street, Galesburg, IL 61401. For online donations, kindly specify “in memory” and include Tony’s name in the designated box. If donating by mail, please include a note stating that your gift is made in memory of Tony Etz.
If you would like to express condolences to the Etz family, please send your messages to condolences@knox.edu and they will be shared with the family.
Here you can read Deadline’s tribute to Etz.
(This article is published with permission of Knox College.)
