Kenneth "Kenny" Hamm

Kenneth M. Hamm

Haughton, LA - Kenneth “Kenny” M. Hamm was born April 6, 1961, in Minot, North Dakota, and a long-time resident of Haughton, LA. After a lengthy illness, he passed away at 1:00 am on Friday, November 10th with his son, David Hamm, and Kenny’s best friend, Steve Caskey, by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dolon Vinson Hamm & Veva R. Hamm-Buckley; and his older brother, Donald Hamm. He is survived by his son, David Hamm; daughter-in-law, Tamra; grandson, Dolon Hamm of Benton, LA; sister Susan Cosse and husband, Jim; brother, Robert Hamm; nephews, Michael Cosse, Donny Cosse, Christopher Cosse, and Brian Hamm and wife, LaDonna.

Kenny was born into a proud Air Force family led by Dolon Vinson and Veva (Roberson) Hamm-Buckley. Kenny was the youngest of 4 siblings (Donald Hamm, Susan Cosse, & Robert Hamm). Kenny attended Southwood High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he proudly served 3 years active duty and cultivated a character and presence that led him to a 27-year career with the Bossier City Police Department. Throughout his career he was assigned to patrol, special investigations, violent crimes detective, DEA task force, patrol administration, and finally retiring as Assistant Chief of Police. During this time, he received several commendations and awards for his dedication and outstanding service.

Kenny was a 30-year member of Martin McClanahan Lodge #384 located in Bossier City, becoming a Master Mason in 1993. Kenny followed in his son’s footsteps by becoming a Past Master in 2010 the year after his son, David Hamm, became a Past Master the previous year. Kenny was also a member of El Karubah Shrine since 2001. He became Potentate of El Karubah Shriners in 2009. That year Kenny made a name for himself not just nationally, but worldwide. Shreveport, home of the first Shriners Children’s, was threatened to be closed along with other locations throughout the world. Kenny became a huge advocate of not only Shriners Children’s - Shreveport, but all Shriners Children’s locations; ultimately succeeded in keeping the hospital open longer. In 2012, he became Recorder for El Karubah Shrine where he held that position for eight years. During his time as a Shriner, he became President of the El Karubah Sandman unit and also served as the Head of the Escort Unit for numerous years. Through Kenny’s continued dedication to the hospital and advocacy, he was elected in 2018 as Chairman of the Board of the Governors for Shriners Children’s Shreveport for two years.

In 2002 he became a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Shreveport Court 26. Kenny continued his passion for traveling through his love of motorcycles where he logged over 200,000 miles traveling to various parts of North America. In 2015, he served as Director of Shreveport Court 26. In 2016, Kenny was elected as Royal Officer within the Royal Order of Jesters, being titled Royal Sir Kenny Hamm. He continued to travel for more than 40 weeks out of the year to various courts to be with those whom he considered to be his family away from home. In January of 2021, Kenny became ill and was placed on dialysis three days per week. However, he was determined that it would not slow him down. Royal Sir Kenny became Royal Director in April of 2021 until April of 2022 leading nearly 16,000 Jesters throughout the world. In April of 2022 in Kansas City, MO, a celebration was held honoring him as Royal Director. Nearly 1,400 Jesters from all over the world attended. It was a celebration that will not soon be forgotten. Even with his medical condition, Kenny increased his traveling to nearly 45 weeks per year. After becoming Past Royal Director, Royal Sir Kenny continued his travels with the Royal Order of Jesters, where he is currently Eagle Chief within the Kachina Klub.

When Kenny was not out traveling, his favorite pastime was watching his grandson, Dolon, play sports. Even as a dad, Kenny never missed his son’s games, not one. Kenny kept that tradition going when he became a grandpa and hardly missed a game whether it was soccer, tee-ball, swim team, or watching Dolon complete a triathlon. Dolon loved his grandpa unconditionally and Kenny knew it. Grandpa Kenny was known to always have a goodie treat in his shirt pocket from the flight snack cart, a ritual he perfected in keeping his grandson close to him while he traveled and a way of looking forward to seeing him when he returned. 

Funeral services for Kenneth “Kenny” Hamm will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr, Bossier City, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Reverend Andrew Brewster. Masonic Services will be conducted at the time of burial at Centuries Memorial Park, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana. The family will receive friends for a visitation, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home.

Honoring Kenny as pallbearers will be Steve Caskey, Dave Smelser, Ben Griscom, Buddy Parker, Marc Brauer, Aaron Habben, William Kemple, Scutter Newton & Jim Gay.  Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Royal Order of Jester National Officers, Ben Allgood, Mark Santos, Giovanni Convertino and his grandson, Dolon Hamm.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the SICU at Willis Knighton North for their support and caregiving efforts throughout Kenny’s illness. The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Shriners Children's 3100 Samford Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71103.

Semper Fidelis - “Always Faithful”