Remembering Frank and Tom
Photo courtesy the LaBonge family
LAFD: On June 11, the LAFD Historical Society Museum and Memorial in Hollywood installed two plaques remembering two giants who helped build and enhance the museum.
Tom LaBonge, Former City Councilman and City employee; and Frank W. Borden, Retired Assistant Chief, international emergency innovator and former Director of Operations of the museum and historical society, were honored with plaques remembering their major contributions.
The ceremony was attended by nearly 100, including the friends and family of Tom and Frank.
Tom LaBonge was on the museum’s Board of Directors until he became a Councilman, and assisted in the building of the museum’s Fallen Firefighter Memorial statue at the museum.
Both Tom and Frank died last year. Tom was 67; Frank was 82.
Host for the ceremony was Capt. Jim Finn, Retired, LAFD and current President of the Historical Society. Presenting the plaque in honor of Tom LaBonge was friend of the museum Gary Goltz; presenting the plaque in honor of Frank Borden was current LAFD Dep. Chief Armando Hogan. Also speaking was Retired Chief Bill Bamattre, whose wife, Elizabeth, was the inspiration behind the building of the Fallen Firefighter Memorial.
Tom and Frank were both passionate Club Members. Alive! honored them in print and on the Web after their deaths last years.
Special thanks to Jim Finn for his assistance in producing this story.
