Wing Foon Ong

Legislative Resolution

View Legislative Resolution File for Wing Foon Ong

Biographical Information

Asian SUNews, Vol. 12, No. 5 (September 16, 2005) noted that, in 2005, the Honorable Wing Foon Ong was presented posthumously with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Trailblazer Award for the Southwest Region.  Included was biographical information and the following is about his early years:

"Wing’s father grew up in the United States, but when it was time to marry he headed back to China.  Wing Foon Ong was born in 1904 in China and did not enter the United States until age 14.  Upon Wing’s entrance to the United States he was detained on Angel Island in San Francisco for three months before the authorities would verify his citizenship.  Wing wanted to pursue an education but was unable to in San Francisco.  There a child must speak English in order to enroll in public schools.  An uncle offered to bring him to Phoenix where he would enroll in school despite the language barrier.  Wing began elementary school at the age of 15.  It took him four years to complete elementary school.  He continued on to high school and graduated in two years.  During these years of schooling, Wing worked as a houseboy for Governor and Mrs. Thomas Campbell.  Mrs. Campbell helped Wing with his English by reading newspapers and discussing politics…."

The following is from the Legislative death resolution:

The Honorable Wing F. Ong, attorney, restaurateur, real estate executive, former state legislator, one of the most prominent members of the Chinese community in the West, passed away on December 19, 1977 in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of seventy-three years.

Mr. Ong, born in Canton, China moved to Phoenix from San Francisco in 1918.  He gained national recognition in 1946 when he became the first Chinese-American elected to a state legislature in the United States.  He served two terms in the House of Representatives from 1947 to 1951 as well as a term in the Senate beginning in 1967.

During his terms in the legislature, Mr. Ong, a colorful and able politician, served most competently on several standing committees including County and County Affairs, Constitutional Amendments and Referendum, of which he was Chairman, Judiciary, Commerce and Industry, and Labor and Management.

Mr. Ong was an example of the fulfillment of the American Dream.  He began his career as a poor, uneducated immigrant who spoke no English.  He initially worked at menial jobs, while at the same time completing his education.  Eventually he was able to open his own grocery and restaurant business.  In 1940, at the comparatively late age of 36, he further sought to better himself by entering the University of Arizona College of Law.  Three years later, upon graduation and admission to the State Bar of Arizona, he became only one of eight Chinese lawyers practicing in the United States at that time.

A champion of the underprivileged, Mr. Ong favored equal funding for poorer school districts before it became fashionable, was an early advocate for the statewide grand jury and championed relief for heavily taxed homeowners.

In 1965, the Phoenix City Council appointed Mr. Ong to the City License and Appeals Board.  That same year, he was appointed by Governor Sam Goddard as Ambassador of Goodwill to the Orient.  An outstanding civic leader, Mr. Ong was a founder of the Phoenix Chinese Chamber of Commerce, President of the Chinese Relief Association during World War II and the Phoenix Chapter of the Anti-Communist League of Oversea Chinese.  He was also a member of the Arizona and American Bar Association, the Lions Club and was listed in "Who's Who in American Politics."

Additional Information

"He gained national recognition in 1946 when he became the first Chinese-American elected to a state legislature in the United States." (Legislative death resolution)

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth:  DOB:  1966 Arizona Legislative Biography sheet and SSDI, POB:  1966 AZ Leg Bio sheet, the 1947 sheet listed December 22, 1905 and the POB appears to be:  Hoy Ping; Death: obituary:  "Wing F. Ong Dead at 73 in Phoenix."  Arizona Daily Sun, December 20, 1977, Legislative death resolution; Occupation(s):  AZ Leg Bio sheet, Legislative death resolution