KENNETH A. NASH

Kenneth is a man with a heart for service who not only served the citizens of Oklahoma City through his law enforcement career but became involved in many other aspects of his community as well. He graduated from Oklahoma University with four years ROTC in 1952 and joined the Oklahoma City Police Department the same year.

As a captain over training, he thought out of the box and brought in top psychiatrists from the country to teach at the academy. He worked tirelessly toward the construction of the 701 Colcord building and his son actually cut the ribbon on that building. Kenneth retired from the police department in 1972 and went to law school and got a master’s degree in public administration and served as executive director of the Oklahoma City-County criminal justice coordinating council. Again, ahead of his time with his vision and ideas, he was instrumental in getting the funds for the first police helicopter. He served on the police pension and retirement board for 36 years. During that time, funding was increased from 15 to 94 percent.

He's served on the OK crime commission under four governors and has been president of the Retired Police Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and OK Sheriffs' and Peace Officers Association. You would think that would be more than enough for any man to give of his time and talents, but Kenneth isn't just any man. His service to his community did not stop there. He's served with Knights of Columbus more than 40 years and the OK County mental health association board, Kiwanis, Sunbeam Family Services, Boy Scouts, Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and won a long list of honors and awards including being named as the territorial marshal of Oklahoma by Governor George Nigh.

Ken and his wife Marie were married 59 years. They raised seven children. Two of them also became police officers and he has 20 grandchildren and 11 greats. His life is an example of what all people should pursue, giving of himself tirelessly, not for any accolades or plaques to hang on the wall, but, simply to make the world a better place, to leave it better than before and his service has surely done that.

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