![Family, friends and co-workers of the late Air Force Gen. William Kirk gathered Tuesday in front of the memorial where the plaque commemorating his life was unveiled. [GENEVIEVE DiNATALE | NEWS BULLETIN]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-531eb044-36c8-79e6-e053-0100007ff08e-6e911199.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW — A plaque in honor of late Air Force Gen. William Kirk was unveiled Tuesday morning at Crestview Technology Air Park.
“I knew him through the Military Affairs Committee many, many years ago,” said Paul Hsu, the chairman and partial owner of Crestview Technology Air Park. “He was such a leader, such a passionate compatriot and American. I admire him, I respected him for all these years and I just want to do whatever I can to memorialize his legacy.”
Kirk was 85 when he died at his Niceville home on April 26. He was a four-star general who — after serving for 38 years — retired from the United States Air Force as commander in chief, U.S. Air Force in Europe/commander, and the Allied Air Forces Central Europe. One of his most notable achievements was when he shot down two MIGs while flying a combat mission during the Vietnam War.
A strong proponent of education, Kirk served for over 20 years on the scholarship committee for the Air Force Association at Eglin Air Force Base.
“We raised close to a million bucks for kids to go to college out of our high school locally and Bill was always the heart and soul of that committee,” said Loyal Weaver, the former president of Eglin Chapter Air Force Association.
“So, that’s where I knew Bill. Wonderful guy.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Air Force general remembered at Crestview Technology Air Park