Robert Walker Kenny, 21st Attorney General

Born in Los Angeles in 1901. Kenny modeled the California Department of Justice to resemble the Federal Department of Justice from a service standpoint, but without attempting to act as a policing organization (except as required to assist local law enforcement). He transferred the main office from San Francisco to Sacramento to work more closely with the Legislature and other state agencies. He also created civil service positions (deputy attorneys general, special agents, etc.) instead of political appointments. Strongly advocated that the people of the State of California can live and work together in harmony and friendship, and he vigorously fought every enemy of that unity, including terminating the legal existence of the Ku Klux Klan in California. Died July 20, 1976, in La Jolla, CA.