Cada Thomas Kilgore III
On August 1, 2020, Cada T. Kilgore III, 67, loving father of two, passed away from complications of heart surgery. His two sons, Cada T. Kilgore IV and Christopher Kilgore, were by his side when he passed away.
Mr. Kilgore was born to Cada T. Kilgore Jr. and Margaret Doris Heard Kilgore in Griffin, Georgia. He grew up in Milledgeville, Georgia, where he helped with the family furniture business, Furniture City. Cada attended Georgia College and State University, graduating with a B.A. degree, magna cum laude. Mr. Kilgore received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 1979 from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he was a Woodruff Scholar and a member of the Order of the Coif. He simultaneously received his M.B.A. from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.
Mr. Kilgore practiced energy and finance law for over 30 years, focusing primarily on cooperatively owned power companies and assisting clients in complex financing, acquisition, and structuring matters. He spent most of his career at Paul Hastings and Sutherland, Asbill, and Brennan, where he helped build the firm’s energy practice group. Mr. Kilgore was recognized by his peers for many years as a member of the Best Lawyers in America in Energy Law and as a Georgia Super Lawyer.
Mr. Kilgore was a kind and hardworking man who approached life with a sense of humor. He was dedicated to providing for his family and taught his sons the importance of hard work, determination, courage, integrity, and kindness. He also was passionate about helping and teaching others, including coaching his sons’ baseball teams at Buckhead Baseball and mentoring many attorneys in both the technical and professional aspects of being a lawyer. Most of all, Mr. Kilgore will be remembered as a devoted and loving father who cherished spending time with and supporting his sons.
Cada is survived by his two sons and his four siblings, Donna Puckett, David Kilgore, Penny Cagle, and Jeff Kilgore. A private memorial service is planned.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. Kilgore may be made to the Law School Fund at the University of Georgia School of Law. Donations may be mailed to University of Georgia School of Law / Attn: Alex Perry / 225 Herty Dr., Athens, GA 30602.
Donations may also be made online at https://gail.uga.edu/commit?cat=school&subcat=law&des=85699000.
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To Tommy’s Sons:
I had the pleasure of serving with Tommy, as we called him growing up, in the Baldwin High Band of the Braves. I was a majorette and he was an incredible trumpet player. He was handsome, intelligent, and quick witted. He was someone everyone liked. Our class of 1970 had a strong presence in the band and Tommy was one of our student leaders. I had the pleasure of meeting your mother at a class reunion early on when you guys were very young. He was so proud of you two, of being a father, and his career as a young lawyer in Atlanta. Your grandparents helped many people in Milledgeville through their business and their church. They were fine christian people who knew the importance of giving back. You have a strong foundation and a great legacy to build upon. Your dad had many outstanding accomplishments in his life, but by far you are his greatest legacy. I just wanted you to know how important he was to so many here in Milledgeville and to the class of 1970, especially the Band of the Braves.