Col. Joe Curtis, a lifelong supporter of the Falcons who witnessed 376 straight home games over 48 seasons, died in his Macon home Tuesday, according to The Macon Telegraph's Joe Kovac Jr.
Curtis, 96, had been to every home game since the Falcons' inaugural season in 1966. In fact, the first home game in the team's history that Curtis missed was the 2014 Week 1 overtime win over the Saints. Curtis' health had been in decline and he couldn't attend the game.
Head coach Mike Smith heard about Curtis' streak ending and the support he provided over the years and personally called him after the Saints game. Team owner and chairman Arthur Blank sent Curtis a Matt Ryan signed jersey.
According to Kovac, Curtis wasn't able to attend any games in 2014, but was a fixture on team charter trips until the late 1990s.
Curtis, a fighter pilot in the Air Force, served during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.
