Carol Kay was born on February 2, 1940 to parents Herbert and Vivian Parks in St. Mary’s Hospital in Winfield, Kansas. She was educated at St. Peter Claver and Cathedral grade schools and at St. Mary’s Inter-Parochial High School in Wichita, Kansas and held offices in the Wichita Adult Branch and Wichita Youth Council Branch of the NAACP.
Carol received her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Communications degrees from Wichita State University and was a proud member of Beta Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Recognized for her leadership skills and social consciousness, Carol was appointed to the Wichita Commission on the Status of Women for two terms and was a membership chair of the Wichita Professional Chapter of Women in Communication. She was an honoree at the Wichita Branch NAACP 86th Annual Freedom Fund Awards Banquet where she received commemoration for her participation in what became the first successful student-led sit-in of the Civil Rights Movement. On the 50th Anniversary of the 1958 Dockum Drug Store Sit-In. Through the local NAACP Youth Council, Hahn helped lead a group of high school and University of Wichita students, including her cousin Ron Walters, who was president of the Youth Council, to protest Dockum’s discriminatory policy. For 24 days in the summer of 1958, the activists worked in shifts sitting at the counter of the drug store. Their peaceful but courageous protest achieved its goal by August 11 when the Dockum lunch counter and all Rexall Drug Stores across Kansas lifted segregated service.
Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer proclaimed August 11, 2008, as Dockum Sit-In Recognition Day and presented Carol and seven others with Keys to the City.
In addition to her activism, Carol had a successful career in municipal government as an employment specialist. She was active in her church and sang in her church choir. She loved Wichita and was proud to call it her home.
Carol is survived by her three sons: Miles Hahn, Herbert Hahn, and Paul Hahn. She also leaves behind her loving sister, Judy Peterson. Private family services will be held.
