[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 110 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF MR. JESSE LIM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 30, 1999

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, it is with the utmost pleasure and 
privilege that I rise today to recognize a wonderful American, Mr. 
Jesse Lim, for his inspiration as a dedicated father and grandfather, 
hard-working businessman, and a model citizen of our great nation.
  The third son in a family with seven children, he was born and raised 
in Toisan, China in 1921. He was fortunate to attend school in China. 
Jesse came to the United States in 1938, unable to speak a word of 
English. After being detained at Angel Island he joined his father and 
brother in Tucson, Arizona. Through hard work and determination and 
with the help of a wonderful teacher, Miss Marshall, Jesse was able to 
master the English language.
  He met Mary Parker Lee in Tucson. They fell in love but delayed 
marriage because he was drafted into the United States Army during 
World War II. He rose to the rank of Sergeant. After the war, Jesse and 
Mary wed in 1946. They has three daughters: Jessica, Jennifer, and 
Janet.
  Jesse and Mary so valued education that they made sure their children 
studied hard. They all did well in school, and all three attended 
Universities: Occidental College, the University of Arizona, and the 
University of California at Los Angeles.
  Jesse and Mary had to work hard to provide for their family. Though 
Jesse was an educated man, he was also of Chinese heritage. Like so 
many in this country, he faced discrimination. There were few avenues a 
smart, handsome man could pursue, but with his beautiful and business-
savvy wife, they built up a number of small businesses, most of them 
``mon and pop'' grocery stores. Their first store was in Tucson, and 
they had several others after the family moved to Los Angeles, 
California.
  As food is very important to Chinese families, Jesse and Mary made 
sure their family would never go hungry. By owning grocery stores, 
there would always be plenty to eat. To make ends meet, the Lim family 
at times live in the store. As the daughters grew older, they also 
worked in the store--cashiering, stocking shelves, and slicing bologna 
and cheese . . . learning the value of hard work.
  But Jesse and Mary didn't just work all the time--although it was 
usually 364 days a year (the store was closed on Christmas). They made 
sure the family had some fun too. Every Sunday, they would go to 
Westlake Park, later re-named MacArthur Park or the Merry-Go-Round. 
They would eat homemade tuna sandwiches made with mayonnaise and sweet 
pickle relish. But they could never go to Griffith Park because the 
family car couldn't get up the hill. They would also get together with 
relatives where the adults would play mah johng while the kids would 
watch TV. When the kids got old enough to drive, they would go bowling 
or do other recreational activities.
  Jesse and Mary kept on working. In additional to grocery stores, they 
once owned a motel in Pasadena, California. They also owned a small 
restaurant/coffee shop in both Beverly Hills and the City of Orange.
  Jesse and Mary were very loving parents. Jesse taught the kids how to 
swim and how to drive. But he couldn't teach Mary either one. She had 
to take private driving lessons before she could chauffeur the kids 
around.
  Jesse and Mary were devoted grandparents as well. They were ``Gung-
Gung and Poh-Poh'' to William, Ralph, Jesse, and Erin.
  Jesse and Mary were also very conscious of helping the community. 
They loved the Lim Family Association. They made sure their kids, and 
later the grandkids, would go to the annual Chinese New Year banquet in 
Los Angeles, Chinatown and become part of the Association activities. 
Jesse led the campaign to raise funds which resulted in the Lim Family 
Association buying its own building in Los Angeles. Jesse served as the 
President of the Association while Mary served as English Secretary.
  Jesse is admired by his friends and family, especially his fellow 
Lims. Jesse likes to talk, and he is fluent in Toisanese, Cantonese, 
and English. He is also a very funny guy. He has always been in high 
demand to serve as emcee on various occasions--birthdays, weddings, 
baby parties. At most Chinese banquets, everyone talks, and no one 
listens to the emcee, but Jesse could command the room. When Jesse 
talked, people listened. You could hear a pin drop. With a quick wit 
and a vibrant personality, he became known as the Chinese ``Bob Hope.'' 
Unfortunately, his daughters couldn't always understand the intricacy 
of his jokes in Chinese, but the audiences always roared with laughter.
  As Jesse and Mary grew older, they became active in senior citizens 
organizations, both in California and later in Tucson. Jesse, always 
the handyman, would buy things at the thrift store, fix them up, and 
give them to the senior centers.
  One of the things Jesse is most well known for is his sense of duty 
and responsibility. When he married Mary, he became the man of the 
family, because Mary's brother Jimmy had died in service to our country 
during WW II. He became the father to Mary's sisters May, Ruth, 
Margaret, and Elsie. After his brother Roy passed away, and his sister 
Sophie's husband passed away, he became the patriarch of the family. He 
is ``Uncle Jesse'' to many, both blood relative or not.
  After 49 years of marriage, Jesse had to say farewell to his beloved 
Mary on May 21, 1995. But with the support of his family and friends, 
he has survived.
  On Saturday, July 31, 1999, there will be a dinner in Tucson, Arizona 
to pay tribute to Jesse and to celebrate his life. A large delegation 
from the Lim Family Association in Los Angeles will be among the crowd 
of 150.
  It is with great pride that I ask my colleagues to join me today in 
saluting this exceptional human being.

                          ____________________