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MOLINE, Ill. (KWQC) – The Quad Cities Airport has renamed its road to \u201cGeorge Kirk Drive\u201d 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.
\u201cAnd 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,\u201d his son Randy Kirk said, about one of his dad\u2019s stories during his time in the navy.
In 1954, Kirk\u2019s 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.
\u201cIt was the golden era of aviation, where commercial air service was really starting to take off, and he\u2019s really credited with setting the foundation for what we have today as the Quad Cities when it comes to the Quad Cities International Airport,\u201d Benjamin Leischner, Executive Director of the Quad Cities International Airport, said.
Leischner said when he learned it was Kirk\u2019s 100th birthday, he decided to give him a call, but he ended up being the one surprised.
\u201cHe knew exactly who I was,\u201d 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.
\u201cIt was fun to follow him in his footsteps as far as in the industry,\u201d Randy said. \u201cBut it was a better goal to be a dad like he was.\u201d
Randy learned how to fly by the time he got his driver\u2019s 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\u2019s now marked with a George Kirk Drive sign, near the place he helped fly to success \u2013 the Quad Cities International Airport.
Items donated from the Kirk\u2019s family will be part of a new terminal design in the future to continue to honor his service and impact in the community.<\/p>\n