Herb Kohn: Holocaust Survivor, Civic Leader & the Fight to Save Kansas City’s Union Station

How does a Holocaust survivor become one of the people who helped save one of Kansas City’s most iconic landmarks?Herb Kohn is a lawyer, mediator, Holocaust survivor, and civic leader whose remarkable life has been deeply intertwined with the story of Kansas City.In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, Kohn shares his family's journey through the Holocaust, the experiences that shaped his life, and how those lessons ultimately fueled a lifelong commitment to civic responsibility and community service.He also takes us behind the scenes of one of Kansas City's most important preservation efforts: the fight to save historic Union Station from demolition. Kohn explains how his legal expertise, relationships, persistence, and behind-the-scenes work helped preserve the landmark and give it a new future in Kansas City.Kohn also reflects on the impact of Missouri Boys State and Girls State, programs he credits with helping shape his own life and that he continues to champion for future generations.From surviving one of history's darkest chapters to helping preserve an iconic piece of Kansas City history, Herb Kohn's story is one of resilience, perseverance, civic responsibility, and the power of people working behind the scenes to make a difference.This is a conversation about the lessons we carry forward—and what we can do with them.