RENAME BURBANK AIRPORT?

Opinion by Don Dufford

Several suggestions have been made to rename the Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport Bob Hope Airport. This lacks objectivity, fairness and historical documentation. This is not to be critical of Bob Hope as an individual.

Everyone agrees that Bob Hope was an outstanding citizen. But to tag the airport with his name would be inappropriate. What specifically did Bob Hope do for the airport? Naming a street or public building for him would be OK. But unlike Charles Lindberg, Howard Hughes and Amelia Earhart he did nothing to put the airport on the aviation map.

Any airport name change should be based on historical relevance or significance, not on individual popularity.