The grandfather of Columbus State University pitcher Bryan Kilgore also died a tragic death.

Guy Kilgore was manager of the Columbus Airport in 1973. He piloted a plane that took Mayor J.R. Allen and his bodyguard Jack Boone to Rome, Ga. for a speaking engagement. On their way back, the plane crashed and all three men were killed. Guy Kilgore was the brother of Don Kilgore, later the coroner of Muscogee County.