[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I chuckled and appreciated the good humor suggestions, as well.
I did remove it tonight. I first wrapped the knob with a velcro strap and then tried turning it with a huge pipe wrench. That did not work. The velcro did not seem to grip the knob.
Next, I wrapped the knob with velcro again and placed it in a vice. I then turned the shift mechanism by hand and it came free.
The knob is scratch free.

Thanks again,
Neil