Harry Emmet McKillop, of McKinney, Texas, passed away peacefully at home the 7th of November with his wife and family by his side. Harry was born in New York City on January 2, 1922 to Harry and Cecilia McKillop. He served as a naval officer aboard the USS Phoenix in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a passionate family man who loved history, especially surrounding his Irish roots.
Graduating from St. John’s University with a law degree, he went to work in the airline industry. He started on the ramp and worked his way up to become an executive with United Airlines, followed by Vice President with Braniff International, and then Vice President with Pan American Airways over the span of three decades. Ross Perot hired Harry in 1985 to head his Electronic Data Systems travel department. A few years later, Ross Perot, Jr. of Hillwood Development appointed Harry as President of Alliance International Airport – International Division.
His lifelong career in the aviation industry was accompanied by a devotion to helping others through humanitarian missions around the world. President George W. Bush awarded Harry the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service in 2007 for his humanitarianism and patriotic service helping Americans in need worldwide. His efforts included managing a high profile trip with the wives of American POWs in Vietnam for Ross Perot, and multiple subsequent trips to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia into the 21st century, continuing the search for and return of missing POWs and MIAs. He traveled to many other countries including Iran, Iraq, Russia, China, and Peru on humanitarian missions attempting to return Americans to their homeland.
The Harry McKillop Irish Spirit Award was established by Ross Perot in 2003 to honor the life and work of his friend and business associate for Harry’s commitment to principles and “Irish Spirit”. Recipients included Jean Kelly of Speedwell Trust, Rev. Bill Shaw of 174 Trust, Sister Pauline Mullen, O.L.C. of Our Friends Place, Father Peter McVerrry of the Peter McVerry Trust, and Richard Moore of Children in Crossfire.
Harry is survived by his wife of 27 years, Rebecca Sue, and their daughters, Mary (Seth) and Tory, six children from his first marriage: Linda, Laurie, Jeffre, Wayne (Mary), Allison, and Tracy, as well as 22 grandchildren: Aaron, Andrew, Kittredge (Jack), Kelly (Ken), Finnian, Vivienne, Ryan, Tessa, Maxwell, Jane, Corey (Samantha), Zachary, Lauren, Kerry, Elizabeth, Lara, Tara (Shane), Nick, Ben, Daniel (Samantha), Michael (Hannah), and Emily, 9 great-grandchildren: Denver, Isabella, Sage, Sean, Maddox, Canyon, Noble, Leighton, and Olive, 17 nieces and nephews, and his siblings, Carol and Donald. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Lucille, and his brother, Tom.
Visitation is at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow in Allen on Tuesday, 11/11/14, from 6-8pm. Funeral Mass with Rosary at St. Michael the Archangel in McKinney on Wednesday, 11/12/14, at 1pm. Interment to follow at Pecan Grove Historic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider a donation to one of the following charities honored by The Harry McKillop Irish Spirit Award: The Speedwell Trust, 174 Trust, Our Friends Place, Peter McVerry Trust, and Children in Crossfire.
Speedwell Trust: http://www.speedwell-trust.com/
174 Trust: http://www.174trust.org/v3/index.php
Our Friends Place: http://www.ourfriendsplace.org/paulinesplace.asp
Peter McVerry Trust: http://www.pmvtrust.ie/donate/
Children in Crossfire: http://www.childrenincrossfire.org/donate