Lakewood Man Given City's Highest Honor for Poets ... Again

It looks like will be Lakewood’s Poet Laureate.

Again.

Without any new nominations for the honorary post, decided Monday to keep Knittel as the city’s poet spokesman.

Knittel has appeared at just about every city function throughout 2011 — from the ceremony to the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce’s .

Knittel was first given the special distinction by city council last year.

“Mr. Knittel has served us well," said council president Mary Louise Madigan.

The 72-year-old Lakewood resident said he was "discovered" at the city's Veterans Day event in November 2010 when he recited a touching poem about a local solider who didn't make it home.

Afterward, he was approached by then-mayor Ed FitzGerald and then-councilwoman Nickie Antonio, who asked him if he'd be interested in receiving the honor.

"I thought to myself 'I don't deserve this,'" said Knittel, who worked at Ingersoll Hardware in Rocky River for 23 years before retiring. "I never expected anything like that. I just like writing poetry."