Kim King

{{Short description|American football player (1945–2004)}}

{{other people}}{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}{{Infobox college football player

|birth_date={{birth date|1945|10|6}}

|death_date={{death date and age|mf=y|2004|10|12|1945|10|6}}

|school=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

|currentposition=Quarterback

|currentnumber=18

|pastschools=Georgia Tech (1965–1967)

|bowlgames=Gator Bowl (1965)
Orange Bowl (1967)

}}

D. Kimbrough ("Kim") King (October 6, 1945 – October 12, 2004) was Georgia Tech's starting quarterback for three seasons beginning in 1965. During his career, he led the team in 712 plays, completing 243 passes for 2763 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 506 yards, placing him in Tech's all-time top 10 quarterbacks. Al Ciraldo, Tech's play-by-play announcer, gave Kim the nickname "The Young Left-Hander."{{cite news|first=Hoyt|last=Coffee|url=http://gtalumni.org/Publications/techtopics/win96/king.html|title=Colorful Character: The 'Young Left-Hander' is more than just a radio commentator; he's made a hobby out of Georgia Tech|work=Tech Topics|publisher=Georgia Tech Alumni Association|date=Winter 1996|accessdate=2007-03-06}} He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1978{{cite web|url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/fame/halloffame.html|title=Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame|work=RamblinWreck.com|publisher=Georgia Tech Athletic Association|accessdate=2007-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918200605/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/fame/halloffame.html|archive-date=2011-09-18|url-status=dead}} and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.gshf.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181&Itemid=50|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221210130/http://www.gshf.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181&Itemid=50|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-02-21|title=Kim King|publisher=Georgia Sports Hall of Fame|accessdate=2007-03-06}} In 2000, he was named one of Georgia Tech's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century."{{cite news|first=Walter|last=Woods|url=http://www.legacy.com/Atlanta/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=2700380|title=Obituaries: Kim King|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=2004-10-12|accessdate=2007-03-06}}{{Cite news |last=Schenke |first=Jarred |date=2004-10-11 |title=Developer, Georgia Tech football star Kim King dies |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2004/10/11/daily12.html?page=1 |access-date=2007-03-06 |work=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}

Kim joined Al Ciraldo in the announcer's booth in 1974 as American football color commentator.{{cite news|first=Edward |last=Tamsberg |url=http://nique.net/issues/2004-10-15/sports/2 |title=Kim King dies at age 59 |work=The Technique |date=2004-10-15 |accessdate=2007-03-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215093007/http://www.nique.net/issues/2004-10-15/sports/2 |archivedate=December 15, 2005 }} After Ciraldo's retirement in 1993, Kim continued his duties, eventually being paired with then Tech play-by-play, Wes Durham in 1995. Kim continued broadcasting after his initial diagnosis with leukemia, though he had to miss games at times to travel for medical treatment.

Aside from football, Kim was a very accomplished businessman with presence in the Atlanta business and political communities. Kim was a successful developer and founded his own firm, Kim King and Associates. He served as finance chairman for former Gov. Roy Barnes and chairman of the Georgia Public Broadcasting board. He helped raise money for cancer research and the Bobby Dodd Charities Foundation.{{cite press release|first=Elizabeth|last=Campell|url=http://www.gatech.edu/news-room/release.php?id=469|title=Tech Legend Kim King Dies|publisher=Georgia Institute of Technology|date=2004-10-12|accessdate=2007-03-06|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902095147/http://www.gatech.edu/news-room/release.php?id=469|archivedate=2006-09-02}}

Kim lost his extended battle with leukemia on October 12, 2004, six days after his 59th birthday. October 2, 2004, Georgia Tech honored King during the school's game against Miami. Kim and his wife were treated to a lap around the field in the "Ramblin' Wreck" and the school dedicated the Kim King Football Locker Room at Bobby Dodd Stadium.