{{short description|American ice hockey executive (1916-1997)}} {{Infobox military person | name = Macgregor Kilpatrick | image = Macgregor Kilpatrick.jpg | image_size = 120px | caption = United States Naval Academy yearbook portrait of Midshipman Kilpatrick | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date|1916|07|30}} | birth_place = New York<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zqgPAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA358 |title=Register of Alumni: Graduates and Former Naval Cadets and Midshipmen |date=July 1, 1956 |page=358 |publisher=The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association, Inc. |access-date=2023-07-20}}</ref> | death_date = {{Death date and age|1997|08|30|1916|07|30}} | death_place = | burial_place = | branch = United States Navy | service_years = 1939–47 | rank = Commander | commands = VF-5 | battles = World War II | awards = Navy Cross<br>Distinguished Flying Cross<br>Air Medal<ref name=BSHoF/> | memorials = | spouse = | relations = | other_work = ice hockey executive (American Hockey League) }}

'''Macgregor Kilpatrick''' (July 30, 1916 – August 30, 1997) was an American ice hockey executive. He was an original owner of the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League (AHL). He also served as senior vice president and general counsel for the AHL.

Raised in Ardsley, New York,<ref name=BSHoF/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/download/luckybag1939unse/luckybag1939unse.pdf |title=Lucky Bag |date=1939 |publisher=United States Naval Academy |location=Annapolis, Maryland |page=224 |access-date=2019-04-27}}</ref> Kilpatrick attended the United States Naval Academy where he was an All-America soccer player in the Class of 1939.<ref name=BSHoF/> During World War II he served as a fighter pilot in the Pacific and was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and heroism in combat.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/19310 |title=Valor awards for MacGregor Kilpatrick<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2014-06-18 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140618214550/http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=19310 |archive-date=2014-06-18 |url-status=live }}</ref> While serving with Fighting Squadron Ten (VF-10) on {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|6}}, he shot down two Japanese torpedo bombers on January 30, 1943, and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fold3.com/image/268371258 |title=Report of Action - January 30, 1943 |publisher=United States Pacific Fleet |access-date=2019-04-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.navy.mil/ah_online/archpdf/ah194311.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207232903/http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/archpdf/ah194311.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 7, 2015 |title=Distinguished Flying Cross |date=November 1943 |newspaper=All Hands |access-date=2019-04-26}}</ref> As commanding officer of Fighting Squadron Five (VF-5) on {{USS|Franklin|CV-13|6}}, Lieutenant Commander Kilpatrick helped lead damage control and wounded evacuation efforts on March 19, 1945, and was subsequently awarded the Navy Cross.<ref>{{cite book |title=I Was Chaplain on the ''Franklin'' |url=https://archive.org/details/iwaschaplainonfr0000unse |url-access=registration |first=Joseph T. |last=O'Callahan |date=1956 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/iwaschaplainonfr0000unse/page/40 40], 91 |publisher=The Macmillan Company |location=New York |lccn=56010786}}</ref><ref>"Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0405". United States Pacific Fleet. April 25, 1945.</ref> He was redeployed on {{USS|Intrepid|CV-11|6}} before the end of the war in 1945.<ref name=BSHoF/> Kilpatrick received a promotion to commander when he retired from active duty in June 1947.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcpKqloZNp8C&pg=178 |title=Register of Retired Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Regular and Reserve, of the United States Navy and Marine Corps |date=July 1, 1962 |page=178 |publisher=Bureau of Naval Personnel |access-date=2020-01-26}}</ref>

After returning from the war, he earned a law degree from Yale Law School in 1950 and practiced law in Branford, Connecticut, forming the firm of Kilpatrick, Kahl and Josephson<ref name=BSHoF>{{cite web |url=https://branfordsportshalloffame.com/inductee/macgregor-kilpatrick/ |title=Macgregor Kilpatrick |publisher=Branford Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=2023-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://branfordsportshalloffame.com/Kilpatrick09.htm|title = Kilpatrick09}}</ref> with other former Navy officers. Kilpatrick was also elected Branford town moderator and probate judge.<ref name=BSHoF/>

In 1970, he was approved as an owner of the expansion team, the New Haven Nighthawks, which began play with the 1972–73 AHL season.

He was selected to receive the 1975–76 James C. Hendy Memorial Award, as the executive who made the most outstanding contribution to the AHL.

In the summer of 1997, the American Hockey League created the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, which is presented annually to the AHL team that finishes the regular season with the most points.

After retirement, Kilpatrick moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.<ref name=BSHoF/> He died on August 30, 1997.

In 2010, Kilpatrick was posthumously inducted into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ahlhalloffame.com/macgregor-kilpatrick-p139026 |title=AHL Hall of Fame<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2014-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210040832/http://ahlhalloffame.com/macgregor-kilpatrick-p139026 |archive-date=2015-02-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kilpatrick, Macgregor}} Category:1916 births Category:1997 deaths Category:People from Ardsley, New York Category:United States Naval Academy alumni Category:Military personnel from New York (state) Category:United States Naval Aviators Category:United States Navy pilots of World War II Category:Recipients of the Air Medal Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Category:People from Branford, Connecticut Category:Yale Law School alumni Category:Connecticut lawyers Category:New Haven Nighthawks Category:People from Hilton Head, South Carolina