Kilgo

Many Atlanta Transit workers called in sick, worried that they would be caught in the kinds of riots seen in Chicago, Detroit, and D.C. But Kilgo went to work anyway and, when he got in, was ordered to duty, not in his role as sales director, but to his old job—driving a bus.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011

Shortly after he got to work, Pete Kilgo got a call from Robert Sommerville, the company president.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011

“You need to fix me a bill,” Sommerville told Kilgo.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011

Alan King, the comedian, stood in front of the bus next to Kilgo.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011

Pete Kilgo and his busload of celebrities did not make it through the crowds to get anywhere near the church, so they waited a few blocks up Auburn Avenue, ready to join the procession later.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011

Kilgo looked over to see Peter Lawford, the British actor who had been married to Patricia Kennedy, sister of John and Bobby, digging through an ice chest filled with bottles of Coca-Cola.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011

Pete Kilgo, the head of sales for the Atlanta Transit System, considered staying home; his wife pleaded with him to do so.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011

Weeks later, wondering what had happened to the bill, Kilgo went to the accounts receivable department and flipped through the files.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011

“You told me to do it; nobody said anything about charter orders,” protested Kilgo.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011

Pete Kilgo, director of sales for Atlanta Transit, went to the terminal with a crew of drivers.

Burial for a King Rebecca Burns 2011