[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E824-E825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. MAN J. CHA, DR. WALTER FUNG, DR. TOYOKO MAE 
          TAKAHASHI, MR. SUTEE VATANATHAM, AND MS. IA V. XIONG

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE P. RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 1998

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Man 
J. Cha, Walter Fung, M.D., Toyoko Mae Takahashi, Pharm. D., Sutee 
Vatanatham, and Ia V. Xiong, for being selected the 1998 Portraits of 
Success Program Honorees by KSEE 24 and Companies that Care. In 
recognition of Asian American Heritage Month, these five leaders were 
honored for their unique contribution to the betterment of the 
community.
  Dr. Man J. Cha has served as Professor of political science and 
public administration at California State University, Fresno since 
1969. He earned his masters and doctoral degrees from the School of 
Public Administration at the University of Southern California. He also 
earned his baccalaureate degree in International Relations and 
Economics from this acclaimed University. Since 1965, Dr. Cha has made 
significant contributions as an instructor in higher education. He has 
taught public management, organizational theory and behavior, and many 
other courses related to American government and public policy issues. 
He has also conducted extensive research related to environmental 
issues, economic development and the political and social culture of 
South Korea. In 1988, he was awarded a Rotary Foundation International 
Ambassadorial Scholarship to give lectures in Korea and the United 
States. In 1992 he was awarded a major grant from the Korea Research 
Foundation to study Korean bureaucracy and public policy. More 
recently, Dr. Cha was on sabbatical leave conducting policy research in 
China and Korea. Dr. Cha has published numerous scholarly works on a 
broad range of social and environmental issues related to Korea, Asian-
American politics and America's economic foreign policy. On the local 
front, Dr. Cha served as a member of Fresno City Review Committee which 
recommended Fresno's strong mayor form of government in 1992. He also 
conducts training workshops to introduce city, county, and state 
employees to an advanced systems approach to public management 
methodology and processes.
  Dr. Walter Fung was born and raised in Fresno, California. He 
graduated from Edison High School in 1950 and later from California 
State University, Fresno. He received his degree in medicine from the 
University of California at Irvine specializing in gastroenterology. 
From 1971 until 1974, Dr. Fung served as the Medical Director for the 
Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission, providing clinical 
care, immunization, and health screenings to low-income individuals and 
children. In 1974 Dr. Fung was confronted with a life-changing 
experience, which he says brought him a renewed focus on life. He was 
diagnosed with cancer and given two years to live. He credits this 
frightening experience with adding a deeper dimension to his physician-
patient relationships. His own illness prompted him to serve others as 
much as possible. His caring and sensitivity has earned him public 
recognition for providing ``extraordinary patient care.'' More 
recently, Dr. Fung coordinated the building of the new First Chinese 
Baptist church in Fresno. The facility has become the hub of activities 
for the Chinese community. Dr. Fung personally was responsible for 
raising $700,000 of the $1.5 million needed to complete this project. 
His past community involvement also includes working with the Boy 
Scouts, the March of Dimes, and the Boys and Girls Club of Fresno. 
Today Dr. Fung says he will continue promoting ``filial piety'' among 
the Asian community. His future plans include helping to build a 
skilled nursing and retirement home for Asian seniors to best meet 
their dietary and cultural needs. Dr. Fung and his wife Barbara have 
been blessed with three children and two grandchildren.
  Dr. Toyoko Mae Takahashi is described by her friends and professional 
colleagues as a ``perennial volunteer'' who has been active for many 
years helping to improve the Fresno and Clovis communities. Dr. 
Takahashi completed her undergraduate studies at the University of 
California, Berkeley. She attained a doctoral degree from the School of 
Pharmacy at the University of California, San Francisco. In 1959, she 
completed a three-year pharmacy internship at Valley Medical Center in 
Fresno. In 1960, Dr. Takahashi established Valley Medical Pharmacy, 
Inc. (Manor drugs) acting as its corporate President. From 1969 until 
1987, she served as a consultant for Hope Manor and Clovis Community 
Hospital. She later became a Partner at Hope Manor Convalescent 
Hospital, and more recently founded the Professional Pharmacy Alliance, 
Inc. and currently serves as the corporate President. In addition to 
her exemplary professional career, Dr. Takahashi is recognized for her 
extensive community service. She has been active for many years with 
Central California Asian Pacific Woman, an organization that helps to 
raise scholarships for deserving Asian Students. As well, she is active 
in the Soroptomist International of Fresno's Youth Forum. The Youth 
Forum is organized for students in Fresno and Clovis to provide young 
people with unique opportunities to discuss ways in which they can help 
to build a better society. Dr. Takahashi also served for five years as 
a member of the Board of Directors of the Fresno Private Industry 
Council, which provides employment and training programs to local 
residents. She has also been very active with the Central California 
District Council, Japanese American Citizens League, the Central 
California Nikkei Foundation, and the Woodward Park Shin Zen Gardens. 
Additionally, she has served on numerous committees designed to promote 
small business development, higher education and civil rights 
protection of Japanese-Americans. In 1990, Dr. Toyoko Mae Takahashi was 
Appointed by President George Bush to the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Citizen Advisory Committee in Equal Opportunity. That same 
year she was recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice for her 
support and dedication to the Japanese American Redress Program.
  Mr. Sutee Vatanatham was born in Thailand in 1951. He and his family 
immigrated to Los Angeles, California, in the early 1970's where he 
attended public schools. In the mid 1970's, Mr. Vatanatham moved to 
Visalia, California, where he received a two-year degree in Engineering 
from College of the Sequoias. In

[[Page E825]]

1980, he received a baccalaureate degree in Electrical Engineering from 
California State University, Fresno. In 1981, he opened the Thai House, 
the First Thai restaurant in Fresno. The restaurant has been rated the 
Best Thai Restaurant for four consecutive years, and three times the 
``Best Asian Restaurant in the Valley'' by the ``Fresno Bee''. The Thai 
House employs more than 40 employees. In addition to becoming a 
successful restaurateur, Mr. Vatanatham has also made a significant 
contribution to our nation's defense. In 1988, he joined the U.S. Naval 
Reserve. In 1989, he was assigned to six month's active duty in Subic 
Bay, the Philippines, where he served in Operation Desert Shield. He 
later served in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia in Desert Storm. Mr. Vatanatham 
earned the National Defense Medal, the Achievement Commendation Medal, 
the South West Asian Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal for his 
military service. On the local front, Mr. Vatanatham has distinguished 
himself through his charitable work and contributions. He makes year-
round contributions to school activities, the Salvation Army, the 
Cancer Society, AMVETS, the March of Dimes, and the American Heart 
Association. Now, he volunteers to help build homes for Habitat for 
Humanity.
  Ms. Ia V. Xiong was born in Highland Laos. She is the third daughter 
of seven children. Her family immigrated to the United States in 1980 
when she was 12 years old. Despite the great number of obstacles that 
confront Southeast Asian immigrants, Ms. Xiong has distinguished 
herself by becoming a highly successful role model for the Hmong 
community and society. In 1992, she became the first Hmong-American 
woman to become a teacher in the Fresno-Clovis Area. Currently, Ms. 
Xiong works for Fresno Unified School District as a bilingual advisor. 
Previously, she worked six years with Clovis Unified School District as 
an elementary bilingual teacher. At Clovis Unified School District she 
designed unique bilingual reading materials and developed primary 
language support programs for first and third-grade Hmong students. Ms. 
Xiong is credited with developing unique multi cultural learning 
activities, such as her popular ``Story Night'' program. In 1987 Ia V. 
Xiong published ``The Gift: A Hmong New Year.'' This book has become a 
popular resource for people wanting to learn more about Hmong culture. 
Her translation of ``How The Farmer Tricked The Evil Demon,'' has 
become another favorite among bilingual teachers who work with Hmong 
students. Ia V. Xiong is active in community service. She currently 
serves as a board member for the Fresno Center for New Americans. She 
is also past President of the Association of California School 
Administrators, Region IX, and is an active participant of the Hmong 
Language Institute. Ms. Xiong is married to Chalee Xiong. They are 
blessed with two young boys, Kien and Vincent.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I congratulate Dr. Man J. 
Cha, Dr. Walter Fung, Dr. Toyoko Mae Takahashi, Mr. Sutee Vatanatham, 
and Ms. Ia V. Xiong for being recognized as the KSEE 24 and Companies 
that Care 1998 Portraits of Success Honorees in celebration of Asian-
American Heritage Month. I applaud the contributions, ideals, and 
leadership they have exhibited in our community. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in wishing these fine individuals many more years of success.

                          ____________________