George Killion

George L. Killion (April 15, 1901 – January 16, 1983) was an American business and political leader who served as president of the American President Lines, chairman of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and treasurer of the Democratic National Committee.

Early life Killion was born on April 15, 1901, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He attended the University of Southern California, University of California (at Los Angeles and Berkeley), and University of Michigan. Killion became a reporter in 1922 and wrote for newspapers in San Diego, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. In 1930 he started a public relations firm in San Francisco. In this role, Killion helped balance the state's budget for the first time in decades.

In 1943, Killion joined the United States Army as a major. He served as a special assistant to the Petroleum Administrator for War until 1944.

On April 21, 1966, Killion was named Disaster Acting Governor #1 by California Governor Pat Brown, which placed Killion first in the gubernatorial line of succession if all of the state's constitutional and legislative officers were killed. He led the company for nearly two decades, retiring on May 1, 1966.

On January 3, 1957, Killion was elected to the board of directors of Loews Inc. (later renamed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.) On July 29, 1957, he became chairman of the company's executive committee. The following year he was replaced as head of the executive committee by Joseph Vogel and became chairman of the board of directors. He stepped down on January 9, 1963, in favor of outgoing MGM president Joseph Vogel. However at the next annual meeting, Vogel was removed and one month later Killion returned as chairman. In 1968 he was succeeded by Robert O'Brien in a shakeup that saw General Mills executive Louis F. Polk Jr. succeed O'Brien as president.

Killion also served as a director of COMSAT, World Airways, Security Pacific Bank, and First Western Bank. He was a resident of Menlo Park, California at the time of his death. He was survived by his second wife, Margaretha Rahneberg, a son, and a stepson. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Menlo Park.