Henry "Hank" C Kasson III

Born June 21, 1940, Hank was a graduate of Walnut Hills High School, Kenyon College, and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Hank played baseball and ran cross country at Walnut Hills, participating in the Ohio state cross country championship in Columbus. At Kenyon, he played basketball (by his own admission, not very well) and was the Co-Editor of the college newspaper, the “Collegian.” He served as president of the Kenyon chapter of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Later Hank was elected to and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review of the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Before law school, Hank enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended Officers’ Candidate School after which he spent 3 years aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal as an air intercept controller. After attaining the rank of Lieutenant, he ended his service in 1965.

Once graduating from law school, Hank spent most of his legal career specializing in municipal finance, tax-exempt bond financing and banking at Cincinnati’s most prominent law firms.

In 1971, Hank lost a close election to serve as a member of the Cincinnati Board of Education. He ran again for that office and was elected in 1973 and again in 1977 becoming President of the Board (at that time being the youngest person to hold that office). During his tenure as President of the Board, the Cincinnati Public Schools were closed because of snow for the first time in 20 years, and the CPS District continued to successfully defend desegregation litigation initiated by the NAACP. The district also filed a lawsuit against the State of Ohio asserting that the State was failing to meet its constitutional duty to provide a “thorough and efficient” education system for Ohio’s children, and the District suffered through a 19 day teachers’ strike (during which time members of the American Federation of Teachers union picketed Hank’s personal home and he was hung in effigy on Fountain Square).

After his resignation from the Board of Education, Hank represented multiple clients including U.S. Bank (then Star Bank) in connection with the American Continental Corporation (Charlie Keating) bankruptcy in Phoenix, AZ and the development of a national municipal bond practice.

After 2000, Hank divided his time between Cincinnati and Montgomery, Alabama – in connection with business and family matters.

Hank is survived by his loving wife of too few years, Belle Nichols, by his wonderful and very successful daughter, Kim Kern, her husband Don, three beautiful grandchildren, Merrell Welage, Kealy Welage and Bryson Welage. Also, his loving sister, Cindy Kasson McIntyre of Dallas, TX. Hank was also blessed with two delightful and enterprising stepsons, Tom Walker (wife Jane Hoerner and grandson Thomas W. Walker, III. “Woods”) and R. B. Walker (wife Maeci Martin, grandson R. B.“Bo” Walker, Jr. , and granddaughter Georgia Walker).

There will be a brief memorial service Friday, June 17th at 1:00 pm at Ridout’s Valley Chapel - 1800 Oxmoor Road in Homewood, AL, and an additional service at Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati to be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Harry and Mary Louise Kasson Scholarship Fund at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio 43022.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the KASSON family.