McCook native's work helped remove lead from paint, enhance public safety

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Mary Eileen McKnight, a McCook, Neb., native and renowned chemist, played a critical role in advancing public safety by leading efforts to eliminate lead from paint. McKnight, who passed away on Nov. 12, 2024, at age 84, dedicated her career to reducing the harmful effects of lead-based paints, significantly improving public health standards across the United States.

Born in McCook on Dec. 31, 1939, to Glenwood Arthur Schmelzer and Anna Beatrice Schmelzer, McKnight’s early education and passion for science propelled her to the University of Nebraska, where she earned a PhD in Chemistry in 1965. Her career took her to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where she specialized in coatings technology and environmental safety.

McKnight became a pivotal figure in developing collaborations between government agencies and industry stakeholders to address the dangers posed by lead-based paints. Once a ubiquitous material in homes and schools, lead-based paint posed severe health risks, particularly for children. Her work contributed to national efforts to abate the use of lead in paints, aligning with stricter regulations and setting new safety standards.

Her contributions helped reduce lead poisoning rates, which were at crisis levels before her efforts. Today, her work continues to safeguard millions of families from the dangers of lead exposure, which can cause developmental issues and other serious health problems.

McKnight is survived by her husband of 63 years, Ronald Hugh McKnight, her three sons, seven grandchildren, and her sister. A celebration of her life will take place on Nov. 27, 2024, in Rockville, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to Friends of Black Hills Nature programs, reflecting McKnight’s lifelong commitment to protecting the environment and public health.