Lloyd Milton McKnight was born on Dec. 26, 1941, the youngest child of Grace and Loyd McKnight of Birmingham, Ala. and Pontotoc, Miss.
He graduated from Phillips High School in Birmingham in 1959 and received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, class of 1963, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Science. While at the Academy, Milt was a member of the Cadet Chorale and Protestant Cadet Choir.
Upon graduation from pilot training at Craig AFB, Ala., he was assigned to the First Fighter Wing Command at Selfridge AFB, Mich., and then as an instructor pilot and flight examiner back at Craig AFB in Selma, Ala.
In 1969, Milt joined Delta Airlines and began a 33-year airline career. He joined Delta Flight Training Department as a DC-8 Instructor and was soon assigned Flight Engineer training responsibilities for the introduction of the Lockheed L-1011. As Delta began its overseas operations, Milt became a crew member of the delivery flight of the first Tri-Star from Palmdale, Calif. to Atlanta, Ga. and was on the Inaugural flight from London to Atlanta.
He held numerous positions in flight training and operations; including flight instructor on the L-1011, L-1011 Flight Training Program Manager, L-1011 Flight Standards Fleet Manager, System Manager for Technical Support and B767 Line Check Airman. Captain Milt McKnight retired on the Boeing 767-400 in December of 2001.
Milt had a life-long interest in sport shooting; both hunting and competitive. He was a life member of the NRA. While in the Air Force, Milt was on the USAFA Pistol Team and the Craig AFB Pistol and Skeet Teams. He was also the Secretary of the Big T Hunting Club in Talbot County, Ga., and was a life member of the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS). In addition, he competed in cowboy action shooting for a number of years.
Milt shared his knowledge and interest in sport shooting with his son, daughters, grandsons and nephew and niece. And after retiring from Delta, he worked as a consultant at Autrey’s Armory in Fayetteville.
Both Milt and his wife, Lou Jean, were volunteers in many horse related activities, as they supported their daughter’s interest in Eventing. He worked with the GDCTA, USCTA and USPC. In 1996, Milt was in charge of the volunteer timers at the Equestrian Venue for the Olympic Games in Atlanta and timed his last competition last year at the American Eventing Championships at Chattahoochee Hills near Atlanta.
As a supportive father, Milt coached his son Andrew’s little league baseball team. And during the time when his children were in school, he was actively involved in the Woodward Academy Parent’s Club; where for many years could be found flipping burgers at Super Goober Day.
Because his faith was so important to him, at one of their last family dinner, Milt presented his youngest grandsons with study Bibles; even though they were too young to read.
Milt is survived by his wife of almost 35 years, retired Delta Flight Attendant, Lou Jean; son Andrew, his wife Stacey and children Garrett and Connor of Jackson, Ga.; daughter Julia, her husband Mario Parra and children Nathan, Josef and Boden of Tampa, Fla.; daughter Shannon and her husband Anthony DeMonti, Jr. of Fayetteville, Ga.; brother-in-law Robert Hackney and his wife Carol and sister-in-law Ann Hackney all of Tampa, nephews Patrick Dougherty of Humble, Texas, Christopher Hackney of Tampa and niece Paige Hackney also of Tampa.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, 200 Robinson Road, Peachtree City, Ga. Visitation with the family will be at 1:30 p.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, 2899 Belfort Road, Jackson ville, Fla. 32256; the ASPCA, 424 East 92nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10028 or your local animal shelter or humane society.
Carl J. Mowell & Son, Peachtree City, Ga. – 770-487-3959.
