Official obituary written by USC Sports Information
Surl Kim, who operated a Los Angeles travel agency that
specialized in sports tours, including for 41 years to USC athletic
events, died on Wednesday (July 18) in Los Angeles. He was
91.
Kim founded Kim Tours & Travel in 1953, becoming the first person to start organized sports tours to the Rose Bowl and later the Super Bowl. He organized his first USC tour to the 1969 football game at Notre Dame. He continued chartering trips for thousands of Trojan fans to football games and other athletic road contests through 2010.
The popular Kim, known for his outgoing and colorful personality, graduated from USC in the early 1950s after serving as a navigator in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II.
Surl Kim, who operated a Los Angeles travel agency that
specialized in sports tours, including for 41 years to USC athletic
events, died on Wednesday (July 18) in Los Angeles. He was
91.Kim founded Kim Tours & Travel in 1953, becoming the first person to start organized sports tours to the Rose Bowl and later the Super Bowl. He organized his first USC tour to the 1969 football game at Notre Dame. He continued chartering trips for thousands of Trojan fans to football games and other athletic road contests through 2010.
The popular Kim, known for his outgoing and colorful personality, graduated from USC in the early 1950s after serving as a navigator in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II.
Kim is survived by his wife of 41 years, Dorothy (a 1956 USC graduate),
sons Tracy, Bruce and Russell, daughter Toni, 3 grandchildren and a great
grandchild.
Services will be held at noon on Saturday, July 28, in the Little Church of the Flowers at Forest Lawn Glendale (1712 So. Glendale Ave., Glendale 91205).
Donations in Kim's memory can be made to the USC Athletic Department, c/o Ron Orr, Heritage Hall 203A, 3501 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0602.
Services will be held at noon on Saturday, July 28, in the Little Church of the Flowers at Forest Lawn Glendale (1712 So. Glendale Ave., Glendale 91205).
Donations in Kim's memory can be made to the USC Athletic Department, c/o Ron Orr, Heritage Hall 203A, 3501 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0602.
Thank you Surl for the many years of the wonderful
away game trips and all the fun we had.
You will be missed.
Always in our hearts. Dorothy, we love you.
Sunny Shepherd
Thanks for all the great times with Kim Tours Travel. You will always be remembered. Rest in Peace.
There are to many USC away games I traveled on with my father Mr Kim to write about , but here are a few I find epic .. the Year Alabama Kim Tours Trojan tour were there when we took the NO. 1 in the nation title away from Bear Bryant in his own back yard .. USC Notre Dame tours at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago are just pure entertainment .. USC Kim tours at the LSU game , the Huskies at Lake Washington , and another great game , Kim Tours did the Penn St game via Niagarra falls and we bused down to St College . How about Boston Harbor Hotel for Boston Collage game .. and playing golf with my father every year for the USC Heritage hall golf Tournaments ..so much fun .. for couple decades Kim Tours did handle all the travel for the SC athletic department I know , because i did most of the work .. and we took care of ART bartners USC Trojan band to Chicago for the Notre Dame games .. list go on and on .. Yes i am fortunate to have worked with the best TRAVEL man in the business , my father .. I love you papa always , Your son Russell Kim