[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN MEMORIAM TO JUDGE DELBERT E. WONG

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to honor 
the life of Delbert Wong, the first Chinese-American judge in the 
continental United States. Judge Wong passed away on March 10, 2006, at 
the age of 85.
  Delbert Wong was born in Hanford, CA, on May 17, 1920, and was raised 
a short distance away in Bakersfield. After obtaining an associate of 
arts degree from Bakersfield College, he transferred to the University 
of California, Berkeley, where he received an undergraduate degree in 
business.
  After he left U.C. Berkeley, Delbert joined the Army Air Corps during 
World War II and became one of 18 B-17 Flying Fortress navigators that 
graduated in his class at Mather Field in Sacramento. During his 
service with the military, he was 1 of only 3 navigators who completed 
their 30 bombing missions. For his bravery and dedication, 1LT Delbert 
Wong was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as four Air 
Medals, for his wartime service.
  Following the war, Delbert was faced with a tough choice: should he 
join his family's grocery business or enter law school? He chose law 
school, and in 1949 became the first Chinese American graduate of 
Stanford University's School of Law. After his graduation, Delbert 
continued to break new ground. He was the first Asian American to be 
appointed Deputy Legislative Counsel serving the California State 
Legislature, and the first Asian American to be appointed a deputy 
state attorney general.
  During his tenure as a deputy State attorney general, Delbert was 
appointed by then-Governor Pat Brown to the Los Angeles County 
Municipal Court bench in 1959, making him the first Chinese American 
named to the bench in the continental United States. Two years later, 
Judge Wong was elevated to the superior court, where he served for over 
20 years.
  Throughout his career, Judge Wong was an exemplary jurist who 
dedicated his life to public service. Even after he retired from the 
bench in 1986, he continued to be deeply involved in his community.
  Among his many accomplishments, Judge Wong researched and reported on 
racial issues within the Los Angeles Airport Police Bureau at the 
request of the Los Angeles Department of Airports; was appointed by 
then-mayor of Los Angeles Tom Bradley to serve on a panel tasked with 
drafting an ethics policy for the city of Los Angeles; and was 
appointed chair of the Asian Pacific American Focus Program of the 
National Conference of Christians and Jews, to combat the rise in 
violence against Asian Americans.
  Together with his wife Dolores, Judge Wong was also an ardent 
supporter of the Chinese American community, making significant 
contributions to the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, the Chinatown 
Service Center, and the Asian Pacific American Friends of the Center 
Theater Group.
  Judge Wong was a trailblazer for Asian Americans in the field of law. 
His dedication to justice and equality was evident in everything that 
he did. His many years of service--for the city of Los Angeles, for the 
State of California and for the Nation will not be forgotten.
  Judge Wong is survived by his wife Dolores; his children Kent, 
Shelley, Duane, and Marshall; and his three grandchildren. I extend my 
deepest sympathies to his family.
  Whether he was fighting for our country or fighting for integrity and 
equality under the law, Judge Delbert Wong was undeterred in his 
efforts to make America a better place to live. He will be missed by 
all who knew him. We take comfort in knowing that future generations 
will benefit from his passion and dedication to justice.

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