Kenneth Hahn

Kenneth "Kenny" Frederick Hahn (August 19, 1920–October 12, 1997) was a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for forty years from 1952 to 1992. Prior to his election, Hahn served on the Los Angeles City Council. He was an ardent supporter of civil rights throughout the 1960s, and was the only elected official from California to meet Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at LAX when Dr. King visted the state in the early 60s. He became revered among African-Americans in South Los Angeles. He belongs to an influential Los Angeles political dynasty: one brother, Gordon Hahn, replaced him on the Los Angeles city council, while another, John, was assistant county clerk. His son James K. "Jimmy" Hahn served as Los Angeles City Attorney from 1985 to 2001 and was elected Mayor of Los Angeles in 2001 but was defeated by Antonio Villaraigosa in 2005. His daughter, Janice Hahn, currently sits on the Los Angeles City Council, representing San Pedro and Wilmington. A nephew, Dale Hahn, is a Superior Court judge (in San Mateo County).

He is of no relation to former Los Angeles County Assessor James P. Hahn.

Hahn is memorialized by a large park in Baldwin Hills, the Kenneth J. Hahn Recreation Area. The 103rd Street-Kenneth Hahn station on the Blue Line is named in his honor. Hahn is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery. [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7599159] ]

He graduated from John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles. At the Board of Supervisors, Hahn designed the County Seal, which has been modified in 2004 due to the cross on the seal. American Civil Liberties Union had threatened with a lawsuit if the County had not removed the cross.

References

*"Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials: 1850—1938", Compiled under Direction of Municipal Reference Library City Hall, Los Angeles March 1938 (Reprinted 1966)