HAMILTON — The family and friends of the four Hogan brothers who founded the Butler County Regional Airport 70 years ago want “Hogan Field” added to the airport name in their honor.

        William T. Hogan bought the land when it was a cow pasture and cornfield. His four sons, Joe, Bernie, Art and Bill, developed it into the Hamilton Airport, which they operated until 1989, four years after selling it to the county.

        Twelve Hogan supporters urged the county commissioners Thursday to change the airport's name to Butler County Regional Airport — Hogan Field. All four brothers are deceased.

        “They started the airport and put their blood, sweat and tears into making it happen,” said Bob Thirkield, president of a committee of the airport's pilots, corporations and fixed-base operators. “If it wasn't for them, it probably wouldn't be here.”

        But the commissioners said they have no intention of changing the airport's name.

        “It's named for the area it serves,” Commissioner Chuck Furmon said. “It just makes sense to keep it way.”

        The airport is an important part of the county's plan to attract businesses with good-paying jobs. The county has spent $16 million for improvements in recent years and will dedicate a new terminal building later this month.

        The commissioners changed the airport's name two years ago from the Hamilton-Fairfield Airport to the Butler County Regional Airport to give it a countywide identity.

        “It's important for economic development to promote and reinforce the identity of Butler County,” Commissioner Mike Fox said. “Anything that would take away from that message would not be appropriate.”

        The commissioners said they are considering other ways to honor the Hogans.

        But the Hogan supporters insist that attaching their name to the airport's name would be a fitting honor.

        “The Hogan brothers were my hero and my friends,” said Martha Lunken, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety program manager for southern Ohio.

        She stressed that she was speaking as a friend of the Hogan family, not as an FAA official.

        “The Hogan brothers taught generations of southern Ohio kids to fly,” Ms. Lunken said.

        Cliff Hogan, Art's son, said the commissioners' decision won't end his quest.

        “I'm not going to quit fighting,” he said. “I'll try to get them voted out of office if I have to.”

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