The Lebanon Lantern The Lebanon Lantern Winter 2019 final | Page 11

Lebanon Borough’s Homegrown Hero
The Burton family
moved to Lebanon
Borough in 1958
and they have a
long history of
Public Service to
the Borough of
Lebanon, and to the
nation. Leona and
her husband Paul
who passed in 1993
raised four sons in
Lebanon Borough.
Leona Burton has the distinction of being first in Lebanon in many ways.
 She was the first woman Lebanon Borough Clerk and served the borough for 23 years from 1970 to 1993.
 She was first Councilwoman in Lebanon Borough serving one term.
 She was the first woman member and remains a member of the Lebanon Borough Sewage Authority
serving on the LBSA since 1994.
Leona holds the distinction of being the most senior resident in Lebanon Borough. She was born in Cleveland,
Ohio to Jacob and Shamia Mady in 1923. Shortly after getting married, Paul and Leona moved to New Jersey,
first to Bound Brook, then to Highland Park, and finally to Lebanon.
Paul, her oldest son, graduated in 1968 from NHHS and graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point
in 1972. Paul served in the US Army for 34 years retiring as a full Colonel. He and his wife Bonnie raised two
children and have four grandchildren.
Jim, her second son, graduated in 1971 from NHHS and graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point
in 1975. Jim served in the US Army for 21 years retiring as a Lt. Colonel, and worked for the Department of the
Army for another 19 years as a civilian government employee. Jim and his wife Michelle raised three children
and have two grandchildren.
Hal, the third son, graduated in 1975 from NHHS and graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in
1979. Hal served in the US Army for 8 years, the reserves for another 4 years and currently is the owner of a
logistics and warehousing firm in Charleston, SC. Hal and his wife Betsy raised two children.
Rich, the youngest, attended NHHS and graduated from Seton Hall University in 1985. In 2005 after 20 years in
Corporate IT, Rich co-founded, co-owns and operates Core Systems Group, LLC an IT and Executive Advisory
Consulting firm located in Branchburg. Following the example of his mother and brothers, Rich has provided
over 25 years of public service to Lebanon Borough; serving on the Lebanon Borough Board of Education,
Readington Lebanon Sewage Authority, Lebanon Borough Sewage Authority, and the Lebanon Borough Council.
Rich and his wife Christine, who is serving on Lebanon Borough Board of Education, raised two daughters who
attended the LBS, and NHHS - one graduated from TCNJ and one is attending UMass Amherst.