[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 18 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E75]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING ROBERT T. E. KAO FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
                         THE COMMUNITY OF GUAM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 1, 2016

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate 
Mr. Robert T. E. Kao for his service and selfless contributions to the 
community of Guam. Robert has dedicated his life to helping others as a 
true humanitarian and philanthropist.
  Robert was born in China in 1939. He grew up in the eastern province 
of Shandong where he developed his knowledge of Confucius teachings. 
Robert and his siblings were raised by an older brother in Taiwan after 
their parents passed away when Robert was just a toddler.
  Robert was a teacher in Taiwan and he married his wife, Anna in 1967. 
The Kaos moved to Guam in 1971 when Anna accepted a military contract 
position for furniture concession. Within a year Anna opened Genghis 
Khan Furniture and by 1995 her business became the premier Asian and 
contemporary furniture store in Guam. She opened ten stores between 
1972 and 1995 in Guam, California and China. Anna contributes the 
success of the family to the support of her husband who served as the 
vice president of Genghis Khan Furniture while guiding their children 
and doing charitable work. Together they have two children and now 
three grandchildren. Both of their children have found success in their 
professions in the United States mainland.
  During a very difficult time for many people of Taiwan, Robert served 
as Overseas China's Affairs Commissioner. He used his personal 
resources to locate and reunite hundreds of families who were separated 
from their families in China. Many families were separated for more 
than 30 years and forbidden to communicate by both China and Taiwan 
laws. Robert put himself at great risk to assist and reconnect 
thousands of people.
  Additionally, Robert has been a member of the fraternal organization 
the Freemasons for over 40 years, and has supported the Shriners 
Hospital through his position as a Noble of the Mystic Shrine of North 
America. He has served twice as the president of the Chinese 
Association of Guam and the president of the Confucian Society of Guam. 
During his term as president of the Confucian Society of Guam, he 
lobbied the Guam Legislature to declare September 28, Confucius' 
birthday, as Teachers' Appreciation Day to remind all students of the 
value of honoring educators. Robert was also a founding member and 
first president of the Federation of Asian People. He has also assisted 
with building the Chinese School of Guam and the Tamuning Chinese Park 
in Guam. Robert has helped students acquire scholarships to attend the 
University of Taiwan and has supported numerous local and national 
charities.
  Robert worked diligently throughout his time on Guam and demonstrated 
true and genuine care for the people he gave his time to serve. I 
congratulate Mr. Robert T. E. Kao for his life and I join the people of 
Guam in commending him, his wife Anna and their family for their many 
contributions.

                          ____________________