The first human referred to as being killed by the mysterious attacker is called "Harold Banks" and also "Old Man Banks," and is named after the special effects man for the picture, Harold Banks.
If you look up "Fawnskin, CA Real Estate Video Tour" you will see the lodge where the cast stayed during the filming (and also where the dinner scene with Ed Kemmer, Sally Fraser and Morris Ankrum was shot). The smaller building next to it was originally the general store where they shot the opening scene of the movie.
For this low-budget production, the make-up was created and applied to Buddy Baer by Jack P. Pierce. Pierce was one of Hollywood's legendary make-up artists. He had been the head of Universal's make-up department during the 1930s and 1940s and is best remembered for creating the special make-ups for Universal's classic horror productions.
Buddy Baer, the giant, was the brother of Max Baer and the uncle of Max Baer, jr. who is best known as Jethro Bodine from "The Beverly Hillbillies".