[1][2] Born in 1925 in Louisiana, Kilpatrick attended Ouachita Parish High School and was a multi-sport athlete.
Kilpatrick rarely spoke about his war-time experiences and briefly considered careers in professional baseball and teaching before returning to military service during the Korean War.
[3][4] After his military service, Kilpatrick joined Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in 1954 as an underwriting trainee.
He was involved in the merger of Connecticut General and INA Corporation in 1982, which resulted in the formation of Cigna.
[3][5] The merger was intended to expand the company's property and casualty insurance division.