Jesse Monroe Knowles (July 23, 1919 – April 23, 2006) was a Lake Charles, businessman, civic leader, former member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature from Calcasieu Parish, and a survivor of the Bataan Death March in World War II.He was born in Merryville in Beauregard Parish but had resided in Lake Charles since 1935. Knowles graduated from Lake Charles High School (renamed Lake Charles Boston High School after consolidation).