[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3322-3323]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORIAM TO SAM CHU LIN

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to honor 
the life of Sam Chu Lin, who broke new ground as one of the first Asian 
American journalists. Mr. Chu Lin passed away on March 5, 2006, at the 
age of 67.
  Mr. Chu Lin was born and raised in Mississippi. He had a lifelong 
interest in news and journalism. When he was a teenager, Mr. Chu Lin 
would listen to the radio at night, emulating the voices of the top 
broadcasters. His practice paid off in 1956, when he convinced his 
hometown radio station in Greenville, MS, that he could find sponsors 
and host a show of his own. Mr. Chu Lin later attended Michigan State 
University, where he received degrees in journalism and communications.
  In the 1960s, Mr. Chu Lin began his career as a journalist, working 
as a reporter and anchor at television and radio stations, including 
KRON-TV in the San Francisco Bay area, and KTLA Channel 5 and KFWB 
radio, both in Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he became one of the first 
Asian-American journalists to rise from local to network news, working 
for CBS News in New York. While at CBS, Mr. Chu Lin reported to a 
national television audience the historic news that the Vietnam War was 
over.
  Throughout his career, Mr. Chu Lin demonstrated his versatility as a 
reporter. He interviewed Presidents and

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world leaders, and he covered earthquakes and other natural disasters. 
In the late 1980s, he reported from China about the government 
crackdown on the Tiananmen Square demonstration for democracy. Since 
1995, Mr. Chu Lin worked at KTTV Fox 11 News in Los Angeles. In 
addition, he wrote numerous articles about Asian-American affairs for 
news publications such as Asian Week, Rafu Shimpo, the Nichi Bei Times, 
and the San Francisco Examiner. He was also a regular contributor to 
KQED radio in San Francisco.
  Over the years, Mr. Chu Lin was the recipient of many awards and 
accolades from prestigious organizations, including the Associated 
Press, United Press International, the Academy of Arts and Sciences, 
the Greater Los Angeles Press Club, and the Radio and Television News 
Association. As a strong advocate for Asian-Pacific-Americans and their 
contributions throughout history, Mr. Chu Lin was also the recipient of 
many awards from Asian-Pacific-American organizations, most recently 
the 2005 Spirit of America Award from the Chinese American Citizens 
Alliance.
  Sam Chu Lin believed that journalism should be educational, and that 
``informing and helping others is what makes journalism exciting.'' He 
felt that journalism was a ``chance to use your roots for a positive 
purpose.'' In his reports, articles, and stories, it was evident that 
Mr. Chu Lin did just that. He was a tireless advocate on behalf of the 
Asian-Pacific-American community, whether he was producing 
documentaries on the Asian-Pacific American experience or speaking to 
organizations about the importance of civic participation. His 
contributions to the field of journalism, especially within the Asian-
Pacific-American community, will not be forgotten.
  Mr. Chu Lin is survived by his wife, Judy; his two sons, Mark and 
Christopher; and his mother. I extend my deepest sympathies to his 
family.
  Sam Chu Lin was a pioneer among Asian-American journalists, and he 
will be missed by all who knew him. We take comfort in knowing that 
future generations will benefit from his tenacity, his strength and his 
desire to make America a better place to live.

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