By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Knowlton

Austin E. "Dutch" Knowlton one of the men whose money brought an NFL franchise to Cincinnati, died June 25 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Mr. Knowlton, 93, was the largest shareholder of the group headed by Paul Brown that founded the Bengals in 1967.

Mr. Knowlton, who was on the team's board of directors until his death and was chairman for 20 years, was "involved in several key decisions from the inception of the franchise," said Mike Brown, son of Paul Brown and current Bengals owner.

Mr. Knowlton was also the largest shareholder of the Cincinnati Reds during the early 1970s and instrumental in building Riverfront Stadium.

A native of Delaware, Ohio, Mr. Knowlton received a degree in architecture and civil engineering from Ohio State University in 1931.

He joined his father's company - Knowlton Construction in Columbus - and later assumed ownership of the business.

Mr. Knowlton's company designed, financed and built more than 160 college and university buildings on nearly every major campus in Ohio as well as more than 100 elementary and secondary schools.

At Ohio State he built Fawcett Center, Hitchcock Hall, Houck House, Jones Graduate Tower, the School of Allied Medical Professions, Wilce Student Health Center, Drake Union and Larkins Hall.

Mr. Knowlton donated $10 million for OSU's Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture, unveiled and dedicated in his honor in 1998.

In 1995, the school conferred upon him an honorary doctorate of architecture.

Survivors include two daughters, P. Valerie Knowlton of Delaware, Ohio, and Suzzanne Schultz of Miami, Fla.

The funeral is private.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com