Street Renamed for Late Frank Modugno

A section of 1st Street near the San Fernando / Sylmar Metrolink station has been officially renamed Frank Modugno Drive after the late civic leader.

Modugno was well known for his involvement in community organizations around the northeast San Fernando Valley, including the Kiwanis Club, the Elks Club, the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America, and the Los Angeles Police Department’s youth drug-education program known as DARE.

He also served on the board of trustees at Holy Cross Community Hospital in Mission Hills, worked to preserve the historic San Fernando Mission, and helped guide the growth of Mission College in Sylmar as a president of its foundation.

In 1966, Modugno was named the city of San Fernando’s Man of the Year. He worked for several elected officials, including former Los Angeles County Supervisor Warren Dorn.

The city of San Fernando voted in June to rename a section of 1st Street within city boundaries after Modugno, following a similar move by the Los Angeles City Council. Los Angeles Councilman Richard Alarcon proposed renaming the street in honor of Modugno, who died in April 1995 after an automobile accident. He was 74.