LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2012 - The Honorable Frank Holoman, former member of the California State Legislature, Restaurateur, and Community Leader died of natural causes in his home in Los Angeles, California on May 22, 2012 . He was 78.
Frank was born on January 10, 1934 in the small town of McCaskill, Arkansas to Cashie and Maejordie Holoman, the second eldest of five siblings. Although he was born and lived in a small town less than 1 square mile, he had big dreams, and even bigger determination. He attended Lincoln University, I.B.M School, and graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. He later served in the Army and eventually moved to Los Angeles, California.
He believed strongly in the philosophy of “pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps”; that if your life was going to improve it would be by your efforts. His hard work paid off and in 1960 he was made Manager of a Thrifty Drug Store in Los Angeles and later became Territory Manager with Warner Lambert Pharmaceutical where he managed a multi-million dollar territory.
In 1966 he became Assistant to Speaker of the California Legislature, Jess M. Unruh and was soon “bitten” by the political bug. He determined he wanted to use his talent and abilities to improve the conditions in his community; plights of injustices and inequities that deeply disturb his conscious. In 1972, he was elected as a Member of the California State Legislature representing the 65th Assembly District and also held the title of Chairman of the Freshman Caucus and was a leader in the Black Caucus as well.
One of his greatest accomplishments during this time was introducing legislation to declare the January 15th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King be a state holiday. Frank said of him, “Martin Luther King was dedicated to the betterment of mankind…because of his deep dedication to these goals, it seems only fitting that we pay special honor to him on this day.”
In 1976, he founded Holoman and Associates and later in 1984 became the CEO & Owner of Boulevard Café in the heart of the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles. He always considered Boulevard Café one of his greatest accomplishments, not only because it gained international recognition, but more so because it served as the hub of the community he loved and had its finger directly on the pulse of the African-American community.
So much more than delicious southern food was served at the Boulevard Café. At any given time, you could see Jesse Jackson at one table and Wesley Snipes at another; Don King or Luther Vandross dining on the delicious fare. It was the place O. J. Simpson visited upon his release, and where President Clinton came to share a meal. You would see religious leaders like Bishop Charles Blake, Dr. Barbara King or Bishop H.H. Brookins along with entertainers like Tupac, Ice T, Queen Latifah or Magic Johnson. Community and political leaders such as U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters and U.S. Rep. Diane Watson also visited. Yes, a long list of who’s who crossed the threshold of Boulevard Café, but Frank also made the everyday people who came, feel like stars and VIP’s.
He was also Publisher and Owner of Holoman’s Black Achievers, an informative newspaper that was dedicated to educating the community on the achievements of Blacks in the development of this nation.
In the end, he still had a dozen projects on the board of his life, and that’s just how it should have been for a man who never stopped believing that the community around him would still rise to live out the creed that beat deeply in his heart. His stalwart mind and venerable spirit will be greatly missed.
Celebration of Life services for Frank Holoman will be held Saturday, June 2nd at 11:00am at Faithful Central Bible Church, The Living Room, 400 W. Florence Avenue, Inglewood, CA.
Mortuary services are provided by Simpson's Family Mortuary, 3443 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, Ca. Interment will be at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, Ca.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made in memory of Frank Holoman to Tom Bradley Global Awareness Magnet School. Information regarding the school can be found at www.tombradleyglobal.org or by calling 323-292-8195. Dr. Genevieve Shepherd is Principal.
Contact
Lisa Jackson
Daughter
323-522-1791
lisajack7@aol.com
