TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Feb 12, 2026

Carleton “Carl” Edward Knechtel, 86, of Dallas, Texas, died Jan. 23. Born in Fortaleza, Brazil, to missionary parents, he held triple citizenship at birth by virtue of being born in Brazil to a Canadian father and American mother. After a varied 20-year career, Knechtel received his law degree from University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law in 1971. He worked for more than 31 years as an attorney in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel for the Criminal Tax Division, initially in Chicago for 15 years and then in Dallas for 16 years. Following his retirement from public service in 2003, Knechtel practiced law in the Dallas area on a limited basis and served as an expert witness in criminal tax trials. A visitation will be held on Feb. 14 at Chattanooga Funeral Home - North Chapel, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson 37343, from 1–2:30 p.m. EST with a services immediately following. Interment will follow at Hamilton Memorial Gardens, 5351 Highway 153, Hixson 37343. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Knechtel's memory to the Salvation Army or a local food bank.