Hungarian Heritage Review, 1988 (17. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1988-01-01 / 1. szám
- ^ungartan-^IVmericatt Profiles == THE MAYOR OF THE BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN, NEW JERSEY: WILLIAM J. HODAS ‘ ‘Growing up in Franklin has been a unique ‘Hungarian’ experience. In the early days (through 1954) the New Jersey Zinc Company was our town employer. A generation of ethnics worked the mines. These people included many Hungarians, Slovaks, Slavs, Poles, Germans, Italians. A large English/Irish population controlled the office. Ours was a true melting-pot town. ” In these words William J. Hodas, Mayor of the Borough of Franklin, New Jersey, describes the earlier years of the town in which he was bom, in which he has lived most of his life, and of which he is now — going through his second term — Mayor. Indeed, Mr. Hodas was Mayor of Franklin before — from 1968 through 1979. And William J. Hodas what is most interesting for us is that, with all of his involvement in local American politics, Mayor Hodas is deeply conscious of his Hungarian background and heritage. In the Fall of 1985, Mr. Hodas and his wife visited Hungary and included a stay in the small town of Tiszaadony, where his father had been raised. Speaking of the people whom he encountered during his visit, Hodas says, “... all the people we met were truly interested in our opinions on everything in their lives. We were treated warmly, and shown every hospitality. We greatly enjoyed Budapest, which is such a beautiful and clean city.” In a warm aside, Mayor Hodas mentions that, “My Mother was bom in Oxford, New Jersey, but taught herself to read and write Hungarian, and best of all, to cook Hungarian! ’ ’ Even though he is deeply involved in and concerned about the affairs of his town, borough and country, Mayor Hodas shows great pride in his ancestry: “(I am) proud to have seen the town my Grandfather was bom in, and where my father was raised. I know they would be happy to know 1 crossed the Tisza, just as they had. ’ ’ Mayor Hodas provides a splendid picture of a person equally delighted in his Americanism and in his Hungarian heritage. 12 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW JANUARY 1988
