[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 81 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO FRANK TING-KUO CHEN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2005

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I pay tribute 
today to the life of Frank Ting-Kuo Chen, a man whose contributions to 
family and community cannot be understated. Frank was a man of great 
compassion and character. He will be deeply missed, but always be 
fondly remembered.
  Frank's life is a true example of the achievement of the American 
Dream. Mr. Chen was born on January 1, 1941, in Taipei, Taiwan, the 
seventh child in a family of five sons and three daughters. In 1965 he 
married his love, Cha Cheng Chen, and they went on to celebrate 40 
years of marriage.
  Frank began his own company in Taiwan in 1970, where he manufactured 
and traded products that were distributed across the United States. He 
went on to hold several positions in public office, including serving 
as District Representative for the Chung Shan district in Taipei from 
1976 to 1977. Frank had a passion for reading and worked for the 
newspapers China Post and the Stars and Stripes.
  In 1977 Frank moved to the United States to give his children a 
better education. He settled in Moreno Valley, California, where he 
expanded his business and went on to achieve his lifelong dream of 
sending his children to college. Even with Frank's successful business 
career, he always made time for his wife and family. He is survived by 
Cha Cheng Chen, and his children, Suzanne, Ping and Lee.
  Frank tirelessly devoted himself to his community, and in particular 
to facilitating the cultural exchange of Chinese Americans in the 
greater Los Angeles area. He was involved with numerous civic 
organizations in Southern California, and in particular the Chinese 
Students Association of the University of California at Riverside. He 
was later appointed as an official delegate of Taiwan's Overseas 
Chinese Affairs Commission, where he dedicated himself to providing 
assistance to immigrants and new residents in the Inland Empire. In 
1988, he founded and served as President of the Inland Chinese 
Association, which has since grown to over 1,000 members. In 1989, he 
spearheaded the establishment of the first Inland Empire Chinese 
Language School. He later also led the movement to establish the 
Chinese Pavilion, a major landmark in downtown Riverside, to 
commemorate the early Chinese immigrants who inhabited the area in the 
late 19th century.
  Although Frank is no longer with us, his legacy will never leave us. 
He dedicated his life to his family and his community, and in doing so 
improved the lives of thousands. His life is an example to all of us of 
how one person can make a difference. We are all truly better for 
having known Frank Ting-Kuo Chen.

                          ____________________