Kilpatrick was born to a Canadian mother and American father, raised in New York City, and later attended Yale University.

After college, he worked in New York City before being drafted to serve in the United States Army in World War I.

After the war, he commenced a successful business career in New York that led him to becoming the president of the Madison Square Garden Corporation.

[1] Kilpatrick ran Madison Square Garden for more than twenty-five years, personally overseeing the operations of the New York Rangers NHL club from 1935 to 1960.

[1] In June 1942, Kilpatrick was recalled to active military duty to serve in World War II and was promoted to brigadier general.