[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 38 (Friday, March 15, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E315-E316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING DAVID LEONG

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 15, 2013

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize long time family 
friend David Leong, a truly unique American hero who has become a local 
Springfield legend for his creation of Cashew Chicken.
  Born in Guangdong, China, David immigrated to the United States in 
1940 and later went on to serve his new country during World War II. He 
trained in Fort Lee, Virginia for 3 months before shipping out to 
Europe. He participated in the Normandy invasion where he hit Omaha 
Beach as part of the fourth wave of troops. By the war's end, he had 
served in England, France, Italy, and Belgium.
  David and his late wife, Wong Shau Ngor, are the proud parents of 
seven: the late Wing Cheong Leong; Evelyne Leong Mousted; Wing Ling 
Leong; Wing Yee Leong; Yim Fong Leong; Wing Loke Leong; and Wing Wah 
Leong.
  In November 1963, David opened Leong's Tea House, a 350 seat white 
tablecloth restaurant on the edge of town in what had been a cornfield 
in Springfield, Missouri. When he started the restaurant he knew that 
most people were not familiar with Chinese food, but they loved fried 
foods. He decided to come up with a recipe that combined both worlds 
together. He created a cashew gravy from soy and oyster sauce, added 
stock, and poured it over fried chicken, creating the immensely popular 
Cashew Chicken. There are now over 300 restaurants in the Springfield 
area that serve it.
  He decided to close the original restaurant in December 31, 1997, 
following the death of his beloved wife. After falling ill in 2009, 
David decided he wanted to open a new restaurant to keep busy. Two 
years of success at the new Leong's Asian Diner inspired David to

[[Page E316]]

launch Leong Foods Incorporated, which specializes in David's original 
sauces and foods for retail sale in grocery stores. Today at age 92, he 
still comes in at 8 a.m. and leaves when it gets dark seven days a 
week.
  Throughout David's life, he has served his country and city proudly. 
His story is an American story, and I am honored to recognize his 
service.

                          ____________________