Leon I. Kahn, Caddo Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller Date: 1999-2000 *********************************************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm *********************************************** Leon I. Kahn is a native son of Shreveport, and his name bears an honored significance in that City, not only for his success in business, but for the efficiency and public spirit he has displayed as former commissioner of public utilities. Mr. Kahn was born and has lived in the same ward and precinct at Shreveport all his life. His father located in the city in 1860, being one of the pioneer business men and a constructive factor in its early development. Leon I. Kahn was educated in the public schools of his native city and in the Soulé Business College at New Orleans. After leaving school he entered mercantile business, and was on the roll of Shreveport merchants for many years. His service as commissioner of public utilities was rendered during a six year term, from 1914 to 1920. The record he gave is one that deserves the frequent commendations paid it. His administration was coincident with an important era of constructive progress in municipal improvements, including the extension and installation of a modern system of sewerage, street paving and other facilities to bring Shreveport municipally to the same rank it enjoys as a business center. Since giving up his duties as commissioner of public utilities Mr. Kahn has been engaged in business under the corporate name of L. I. Kahn Company, municipal engineers. This firm specializes in installing modern White Way and other lighting systems and municipal utilities, and has done a very extensive business not only in Shreveport but throughout Louisiana and the Southwest. A life long booster for Shreveport and Louisiana, Mr. Kahn during 1924 spent much of his time in financing and getting together a Louisiana exhibit for the Southern Exposition held in New York City during January, 1924. He acted as state chairman for Louisiana for this exposition, and traveled to all the important centers of the state, bringing before Chambers of Commerce and other groups of local citizens the importance of having Louisiana and its resources and industries properly represented. The important feature of the plan emphasized by Mr. Kahn was to get an adequate representation under one roof, where hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Exposition might witness the exhibit; a representation of all the great variety of rich and important, but for the most part unknown, resources, and manufactured products of Louisiana. Mr. Kahn was chairman of the War Camp Community Fund for this district, and is now a member of the Park Board of the City of Shreveport, having recently been re-appointed for an additional four year term. He has also for the past four years been president of the Community Service, which has been well established in this community. The curb market, the only institution of its kind was created by Mr. Kahn and has served a useful purpose. The union of American Hebrew congregations has claimed Mr. Kahn for its leader in this work, he having been its chairman for a considerable period. Mr. Kahn is past president of the Lion's Club, also active in Boy Scout and Campfire Girls work. Mr. Kahn married Miss Juliette Levy, daughter of the late Capt. Simon Levy, Jr., one of Shreveport's most prominent citizens. They have a daughter, Leonie F. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 40, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.