Frank Deiner EDISON — Fifty years after he lobbied for the land that would become the campus of Middlesex County College, Frank Deiner has been honored with the college’s Paige D. L’Hommedieu Award.
Deiner was a Middlesex County freeholder in the 1960s and one of the founding fathers of the college.
He led a contingent of county officials who traveled to Washington, D.C., in 1964 to lobby for the land that would become the campus of Middlesex County College. He was also instrumental in selecting the college’s first board of trustees.
The L’Hommedieu Award is the highest honor given by the college. It is awarded annually at the Fall Convocation to a person who embodies the citizenship, leadership and humanity of L’Hommedieu, who chaired the college’s first board.
Dorothy K. Power, the board’s current chairwoman, presented the award.
“What a special time it is to recognize Mr. Deiner, who was here 50 years ago and has remained an advocate to this day, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our county college,” she said. “Thank you, Frank, for your foresight and work those many years ago to bring us to what and where we are today.”
Then 33 years old, Deiner was the youngest Middlesex
County freeholder. He served as chair of the freeholders’ Education Committee. He selected part of the Raritan Arsenal as the land he wanted for the college and led efforts to secure it.
“I’m very honored to receive the Paige L’Hommedieu Citizenship Award,” Deiner said as he accepted the plaque. “To be with an institution at its birth and to see it grow gives me unending pride. It’s amazing to me how many people have improved their lives; it’s mind-boggling. The college continues to grow and has a great future.”