Dallas native Kenneth Walker Hearn, Sr. was born on Dec. 24, 1935 and died at the age of 77 following a long illness on Saturday Jan. 12. He leaves an indelible legacy in Irving/Grand Prairie’s Bear Creek community.
When African American children visit an Irving Public Library, it is thanks in part to efforts he led in the 1960s to integrate the city’s library system. When children play baseball on the Scott-Hearn Field adjacent to Jackie Townsell Heritage Park it is a field bearing his name in honor of years of service to the community by him and his entire family.
Hearn was one of the founders of the West Irving Improvement Association (WIIA) in 1964, the oldest Black nonprofit organization in Irving. Over the years they led successful efforts to integrate the city’s schools and swimming pools and many other milestones. He also co-founded in 1997 the Bear Creek Development Corporation, where he served as a board member until resigning due to poor health last September.
“Mr. Hearn was a Father, a Big Brother, a Comforter, a Friend, a Mentor, a Teacher and most importantly his life will forever be a lasting example to me of how to be a man of integrity and honor at all times,” Anthony Bond, long time Irving community activist.
Irving City Councilman Dennis Webb is quoted on the program, “He was a major inspiration for me to serve the Bear Creek Community. He had a very simple nature and never wanted a pat on the back. He just worked for what was right.”
Hearn and his wife of 59 years, Mae Ruth, moved to community in 1958. Together they worked to make Irving a better community for all children including their son the late Kenneth Hearn, Jr. and daughter Makini.
The Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. at Rocky Springs Missionary Baptist Church on the Grand Prairie side of Bear Creek at 316 E. Shady Grove Road.
