Preston Hewlett Kilgo
Preston Hewlett Kilgo was born Jan. 31, 1933, in Cullman County. He was the son of Preston H. and Edith Rae (McManus) Kilgo. Shortly after graduating from Cullman High School in 1950, Kilgo volunteered to join the United States Navy.
Kilgo was an electronics technician first class with the Navy and served during the Korean War. He was attached to the USS Frank E. Evans. After the war, Kilgo remained in the Navy and was assigned to the destroyer, Henry W. Tucker.
In August 1955, Kilgo returned to Cullman to visit with family for 10 days before heading back to California Aug. 29 where he was stationed. On Sept. 2, the day after he arrived back in California, Kilgo was killed in Long Beach by a hit-and-run driver. He was just 22 years old.
Kilgo left behind a widow, Doris Louise Edge Kilgo, and two young children. He is buried in the Cross Creek Cemetery in West Point. He is also memorialized at Cullman’s Veterans Memorial Park.
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