[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO MARY FAT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 1998

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of 
Sacramento's most inspiring citizens, Mary Fat. Mrs. Fat will be 
honored this evening by the Jinan-Sacramento Sister Cities Corporation. 
I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in commemorating her 
remarkable contributions to the people of Sacramento.
  Mary Fat was born Yee Lai Ching in Canton, China in 1908. She was the 
youngest of seven children in a prominent Hong Kong family. She became 
the bride of a young Frank Fat in 1924 in Canton. A traditionally 
arranged marriage, she never knew her husband before they were wed. In 
1925, the couple saw the birth of a son, Wing-Kai.
  Frank returned to the United States where he had worked before in 
1926, without his wife and newborn son. His objective was to make 
enough money to repay debts and support his young family. Frank quickly 
found work in a restaurant in Sacramento, California.
  Yee Lai Ching was not eager to join her husband in the United States. 
But in 1936 she and her son joined Frank in Sacamento. At this time she 
adopted the American name of ``Mary.'' She found a job at a Del Monte 
cannery in addition to her work raising a young son. Frank and Mary 
eventually had six children, four sons and two daughters. Their 
children were educated as attorneys, a dentist, and successful 
businessmen and women.
  In 1939, Frank bought a dilapidated restaurant on L Street in 
Sacramento. His hard work and Mary's assistance eventually established 
the restaurant as one of the best in California's capital. They forged 
a successful life together in both business and community activism 
which encouraged an awareness of Chinese culture.
  Mary strongly supported Frank as the leader of the Chinese community 
in Sacramento. With her help, he founded the Jinan-Sacramento Sister 
Cities Corporation, the Chinese American Council of Sacramento, and 
CAPITAL, the Council of Asian Pacific Islanders Together for Active 
Leadership.
  Today, with the tireless work of Mary and Frank Fat, CAPITAL is 
Sacramento's premier Asian American Pacific Islander organization, 
comprising 65 groups in Northern California. Yet the Fat's family life 
was every bit as prolific as their civic endeavors.
  Mary and Frank's children and grandchildren are following the example 
set by the Fats. They are positively contributing to their community 
and furthering awareness of the diverse Chinese culture which exists 
not only in Sacramento and California, but throughout the United 
States.
  Mr. Speaker, Mary Fat has devoted her adult life to supporting the 
civic activism of her husband and promoting the wealth of Chinese 
culture which exists in my home state. As she is honored tonight, I ask 
all of my colleagues to join with me in saluting her seventy years of 
great accomplishments and community service in Sacramento.

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