Kenneth Lloyd King was born December 20, 1934 on a ranch near Gainesville, TX. He was the only child of an Army veteran who became a prisoner of war during the Battle of the Bulge. His mother owned and operated a dress factory near home. Ken’s outgoing attitude made him extremely popular in high school, and he excelled in both academics and athletics. He was a member of the National Honor Society and played varsity football and basketball. Ken never mentioned it, but he saved the lives of two people during this time. After high school graduation, he attended Austin College in Sherman, TX for one semester. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to a unit at Fort Knox, KY. His commanders immediately recognized his great potential and encouraged him to apply to the USMA Prep School. Ken spent two years at the Prep School, earning a competitive appointment, totally unaware he was eligible for a presidential appointment due to his father’s service.

In July 1956, a strongly built, self-reliant young man walked through the sallyport into Central Area at West Point. His contemporaries quivered and quaked with trepidation, but “The Kingfish” had a secure grasp of the situation. Ken already was “spoony.” His previous experiences had taught him to respect upperclassmen and officers, spit-shine boots, march, perform the Manual of Arms with great dexterity, and memorize “Plebe Poop.” He gained unwanted fame during plebe year when upperclassmen visited class formations from all over the area just to encounter him. When told to “pop up your chest,” they were awed that Kingfish could increase his chest size by several inches. When they cried out, “Where are you from, Mister?” his stentorian voice, unruffled by his deep brace and many wrinkles below his chin, would respond “Gainesville, Texas, sir!” in a deep Texan drawl. His maturity, overwhelming personality and jocular nature resulted in immediate friendships, and he helped others in First Company, New Cadet Barracks, and later in Company L-2. Ken was in the top third of his graduating class and was excused from many of the written general reviews. 

With his tall yet stocky build, he was a terror on the “intermurder” field. Ken loved football and once injured a companymate when they accidently collided. He was a terrific defenseman on the Lacrosse Team. He also loved to play bridge. Kingfish had a million jokes that never grew old and was always good for a fallout on Wednesday Steak Night in the Mess Hall. Ken was indeed the elite joke teller of the class.

Upon graduation in June 1960, Ken was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery and married Janet Heatwole. After basic course at Fort Sill, OK, Ken was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82 Field Artillery Regiment in Kitzingen, Germany in 1961. He and Jan welcomed daughter Kimberly and son Kenneth Jr. In 1964, they returned to the States. The USMA Math Department asked him to become an instructor, but, rather than seeing all those numbers dancing in his head, Kingfish resigned from the Army in 1965 and enrolled at the University of Virginia Law School. While there, he had a paper route and drove a taxi to defray expenses.

Ken began his distinguished and varied legal career with a Wall Street firm headed by “Wild Bill” Donovan, former director of the OSS. Later, he was employed by firms in Dallas and El Paso, TX, where he became a partner. It was in El Paso that Ken and Jan divorced. Ken and the children moved to San Diego in 1975, and Ken became a full partner with Sullivan and Jones. He was an excellent anti-trust and civil litigator who spoke very little about his clients and their cases, rather preferring to maintain their privacy.

While in San Diego, Ken was reunited with Kaye Briscoe, a successful professional woman and his childhood friend since age 5. They married and had a blended family of five children plus pets. Ken and Kaye actively and lovingly worked together to ensure the children received a good education, participated in family and community activities, and were involved in the Christian community. Ken was devastated by the untimely death of Ken Jr. during this time and entered into a more serious phase of his life while still maintaining some of the old joviality.

Both Ken and Kaye had deep roots in Texas, and eventually they decided to set up their individual practice in Dallas. They spent weekends in Gainesville helping their elderly parents and planning for the return to their hometown. They designed and constructed “Tres Lobos,” a magnificent Spanish hacienda just outside of Gainesville. Huge logs were shipped from Albuquerque, NM and incorporated into the project. 

Upon his retirement, Ken and Kaye moved back to Gainesville and “Tres Lobos.” He remained active in hometown activities, and residents remember him for his time, talents, and compassion for the powerless. Kingfish also looked forward to his twice-yearly golf outings with John Nix, George McManus and other classmates and friends. It was at one of these outings that Ken fell ill. On returning home, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He grew frailer, but his spirit continued to shine brightly. To those that really knew him, he was a friend nonpareil, always constant, never judgmental, always supportive, and positive. Ken passed away on March 20, 2007. To the very end, he carried a deep respect and loyalty for West Point. He treasured his family, friends, and the times they shared together through the years. We are all better persons for knowing Ken.

— Jack Homes ’60