James "Jimmy" Kilgo Jr.

Mr. Kilgo died Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. He was born in Mobile, Alabama on November 21, 1930. He moved to Charlotte, North Carolina when he was one year old and has considered Charlotte his home ever since. He was the son of James Bethea Kilgo, Sr and Ruth Warwick Kilgo. He graduated from Central High School, Charlotte College (CCUNCC) and received a Liberal Arts Degree in 1952 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mr. Kilgo was employed from 1951 – 1956 at WIST Radio where he produced and hosted a late night rock-and-roll request show called “Kilgo’s Korner”. Also while at WIST Radio, he ran a weekday after school rock-and-roll dance and interview program, at Hawthorne Recreation Center called “Kilgo’s Kanteen”. From 1956 – 1957, Mr. Kilgo worked at WSJS-TV in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 1957, Mr. Kilgo was one of the original television personalities who signed-on the first broadcast of WSOC-TV. He worked there from April,1957 until 1970 and did the 6:00 pm weathercast as well as other shows. He is best known, however, for the popular teenage dance and interview show called “Kilgo’s Kanteen”. Many local groups, as well as recording artists, were featured on this show. Due to the impact, “Kilgo’s Kanteen” had on the youth of our community, Mr. Kilgo was inducted into the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame in November, 2013. Mr. Kilgo also produced and hosted the weekday “Midday” show with interviews of local celebrities and many well-known actors and actresses. He left WSOC-TV after 13 years to work the morning show at Big WAYS Radio, which he did for three years. In 1973, Mr. Kilgo left broadcasting and began a career in sales with Jordan Graphics. He retired from Jordan Graphics in 1994.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Wilma Horne Kilgo; two daughters, Linda Jo Kilgo and Janice Deane “Jann” Kilgo (Rick Kiser); two sons, James Bethea “Jim” Kilgo, III (Janet), and John Martin “Jay” Kilgo (Sharon); three granddaughters, Leslie Marie Kilgo Kiser, Emily Gayle Kilgo Kiser Yellick (Jason), and Margaret Ann “Maggie” Kilgo; one great-granddaughter, Clara Bethany Yellick; two brothers, John Warwick Kilgo (Patsy) and Paul Fleming Kilgo (Angela); sister-in-law, Agnes Smith (George “Bud” Smith), and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family graveside service will be followed by a memorial service to be conducted on Wednesday, May 9th by Bishop Woodie White and Dr. Tom Steagall at 2:00 pm, Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church, 501 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC, where Mr. Kilgo was a long time member. Receiving will follow the memorial service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church, 501 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204; or to Levine Cancer Center, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, Suite 5300, Charlotte, NC 28204; or to Hospice & Palliative Care, https://hpccr.thankyou4caring.org/.