HAMILTON — In a major change of heart, Butler County commissioners decided Thursday to add “Hogan Field” to the name of the Butler County Regional Airport.

        For three years, county officials have resisted the requests — which sometimes escalated into angry demands — by the family and friends of the four Hogan brothers who developed the airport to change its name to honor them.

        Just two weeks ago, the commissioners voted to name the airport's new terminal, instead of the airport, after the brothers, who are deceased.

        But at the instigation of Commissioner Chuck Furmon, the commissioners on Thursday rescinded that decision, then voted to change the name of the airport to “Butler County Regional Airport — Hogan Field.”

        The Hogans and their supporters had gathered about 12,000 signatures on petitions to place the renaming on the November ballot as a referendum. The commissioners said those signatures swayed them.

        “That support was quite phenomenal, and after reflecting on this issue, it has caused me to change my mind,” Mr. Furmon said.

        Cliff Hogan, son of one of the four brothers, told the commissioners he appreciated their willingness to rethink the issue.

        “I don't want this to be considered a victory by anybody,” he said. “This is democracy at its best.”

        The commissioners' move two weeks ago to name the new terminal Hogan Terminal didn't satisfy the Hogan family and their supporters. They insisted that the only appropriate honor was to attach the Hogan name to the airport's.

        Four brothers, Joe, Bernie, Art and Bill Hogan, started developing the airport in 1932 and sold it to the county in 1984.

        The Hogans staged a relentless and sometimes contentious lobbying effort the past three years to add “Hogan Field” to the name.

        The commissioners had said they believed adding “Hogan Field” would dilute the impact of Butler County's name on the airport, an important tool for recruiting new businesses to Butler.

        Cliff Hogan's cousin, Dr. Fred Hogan, became so angry last April at the commissioners' refusal to rename the airport that he decided to run as an independent against Commissioner Courtney Combs.

        Dr. Hogan, a Hamilton dentist, said Thursday that he's glad the commissioners have changed their minds, but he still plans to run.

        “There needs to be a change in the commissioners,” he said. “They haven't been listening to the voters.”

        But Cliff Hogan and Art Hogan's sister, Mary Ann Hogan Hornung, were smiling when they walked out of Thursday's commissioners' meeting.

        “It feels wonderful,” she said. “I don't think adding Hogan Field takes away anything from Butler County's name. It just adds to it.”

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