Kirke, who died in 1997, was a 205-pound tackle on the Pearl River football team. He was named on the 1963 All-American Junior College team by the Jaycee Grid-Wire Service. He helped lead the Wildcats to a 9-0-1 record, and the last of Coach Holden’s seven state championships at Pearl River.

He was the son of the Rev. and Mrs. Paul Kirke of Poplarville. He and his wife, Carol Kirke, have two children, Josh Kirke of Wiggins and Dawn Kenderick of Metairie, La.