Robert Edward Kneece was born on December 20, 1933 in Columbia, son of Otis Salter and Elise Blackmon Kneece. He attended the University of South Carolina and received his B.S. degree in 1956 and an LL.B. in 1958. He was admitted to the Bar in 1958 and practiced in Columbia, South Carolina from 1958 to 2000.
He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1966–1976; Chairman, House Judiciary Committee 1972–1976; Chairman, S.C. Department of Social Services 1978–1981; Chairman, S.C. Council on Children and Youth. Member. S.C. Legislative Council; S.C. Judicial Council; State Reorganization Commission; S.C. Constitution Revision Study Committee; S.C. Judicial Reform Study Committee.
He was also Founding Director, First Palmetto Bank; Executive Board of Directors, Southern National Bank; Branch Bank and Trust Board Member, Defender Industries; Member, Columbia Chamber of Commerce; Advisory Council, Indian Waters Council, Boy Scouts of America; President, S.C. Young Democrats, 1961; Mason; Shriner; Member, Sigma Chi Fraternity and awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Jim Hodges.
He was a Member, Incarnation Lutheran Church; former president, Lutheran Brotherhood. Advisory Board, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary; gifted trial lawyer and enlightened leader and legislator.
Robert Kneece married Margaret Ann Medders. He had six children, Melanie K. Calvert, Robert E. Kneece, Jr., Richard O. Kneece, Melinda K. Douglass, Rexford P. Kneece, and Margaret Ann Kneece, sixteen grandchildren and a brother, William Otis Kneece.