[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING LONG-TIME COMMUNITY LEADER AND ACTIVIST MR. JOE YING CHIU

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2011

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great loss to our 
community, Mr. Joe Ying Chiu, who passed away on March 24, 2011 at the 
age of 76. My heart goes out to his wife, Marilyn; sons Steven and 
Edward; daughter Carolyn; his four grandchildren; and the rest of his 
family and friends.
  Mr. Chiu was an extraordinary citizen, a role model for community 
activism and a powerful advocate for the Chinese American community. He 
was the living embodiment of the American Dream, having been born in 
China in 1934 and then emigrating to the United States as a ``paper 
son'' when he was just a teenager, first arriving in the San Francisco 
Bay area.
  Like most immigrant children, he learned the values of hard work and 
perseverance at an early age. After meeting his wife Marilyn and 
marrying her in 1961, he went to work at his father-in-law's meat 
market in Pasadena, Southern California. It was there that his strong 
work ethic began paying off, and where he first honed his incredible 
business acumen.
  With the help and support of his father-in-law, he eventually opened 
his own grocery store in Long Beach in 1967. That store, Hanson's 
Market, went on to become a fixture in the community and served the 
neighborhood for 25 years.
  It was the beginning of a long career in the grocery business for 
Joe, who became a successful businessman and eventually owned and 
operated several different establishments.
  After his retirement from the grocery business, Joe was able to focus 
his energy on a cause that had long been dear to his heart: advocating 
for the Chinese American community in Los Angeles' Chinatown. With his 
wife Marilyn, Joe became an active member of the Lung Kong Association, 
serving in several political offices in the organization.
  He went on to become an avid and generous supporter of numerous 
civic, political and philanthropic events and charities that greatly 
benefited the Chinese community throughout the United States, China and 
Taiwan.
  I urge all my House colleagues to join me in honoring our community 
hero, Mr. Joe Ying Chiu, for his remarkable service and contributions 
to our country.

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