The man behind “George Kirk Drive” – KWQC
MOLINE, Ill. (KWQC) – The Quad Cities Airport has renamed its road to “George Kirk Drive” to honor the leader and legacy he left behind.
Born in Dixon, Iowa, George Kirk was a World War II naval aviator. He flew 78 combat missions, earned multiple medals and had seven aerial victories, but above all, Kirk never left a man behind.
“And I think one of the reasons why he got this medal was because he and his wingman circled this guy for over an hour and a half and he was maybe 15 miles away from the island where the enemy was until the guy got picked up, that took courage,” his son Randy Kirk said, about one of his dad’s stories during his time in the navy.
In 1954, Kirk’s relationship with airplanes would continue, but a little differently than before, as the first manager of Moline Airport.
After almost 30 years at the job, the airport had considerable infrastructural growth, including the construction of a new terminal.
“It was the golden era of aviation, where commercial air service was really starting to take off, and he’s really credited with setting the foundation for what we have today as the Quad Cities when it comes to the Quad Cities International Airport,” Benjamin Leischner, Executive Director of the Quad Cities International Airport, said.
Leischner said when he learned it was Kirk’s 100th birthday, he decided to give him a call, but he ended up being the one surprised.
“He knew exactly who I was,” Leischner said. He knew what was happening at the airport and community.
Besides being a great example of service and dedication to the community, Kirk was also an example of a dad at home.
“It was fun to follow him in his footsteps as far as in the industry,” Randy said. “But it was a better goal to be a dad like he was.”
Randy learned how to fly by the time he got his driver’s license and ended up working at the airport as well.
Kirk died in 2023, at the age of 101, leaving behind a legacy of excellence that’s now marked with a George Kirk Drive sign, near the place he helped fly to success – the Quad Cities International Airport.
Items donated from the Kirk’s family will be part of a new terminal design in the future to continue to honor his service and impact in the community.
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