Mosquito District Pays Tribute to Ben Laflin
It may seem hard to believe, but recently retired Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District Board member Ben Laflin was originally appointed to his post on that panel back in 1951.
At his retirement celebration last night in a packed chamber, the District paid homage to Laflin, who noted that when he was first on the board… he was the youngest. After more than 50 years of service, he noted, things had changed drastically.
And not just because Laflin had grown older, either. His wife Patricia, in paying tribute to her husband’s pioneering efforts to reduce mosquitoes, gnats and flies, noted that in “the old days,” there was the Coachella Valley Wave. The Wave wasn’t necessarily because people were friendly… it was because they were trying to keep the bugs away from their faces.
Patricia Laflin noted that without the efforts of the CVMVCD, tourism in the valley would have never flowered.
Ben Laflin received proclamations from state elected officials and from Supervisor Roy Wilson, for his dedicated service and leadership with the District.