[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 96 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [Congressional Record: July 21, 1994] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] TRIBUTE TO FRANK H. OGAWA ______ HON. ANNA G. ESHOO of california in the house of representatives Thursday, July 21, 1994 Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Frank Ogawa--a dedicated public servant, outstanding civil rights leader, and loving husband and father--who passed away earlier this month in Oakland, CA. Having been friends with Frank and having served with him on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board for many years, I know he will be sorely missed. But I also know that his contributions to the city of Oakland, the bay area, and the Asian-American community will endure for generations to come. Frank Ogawa was a remarkable person because he could take personal misfortune and turn it into a positive learning experience for himself and others. When Frank and Grace Ogawa were forced to sell their belongings and live in interment camps during World War II, they had to sleep on straw mattresses in horse stalls for six months before being shipped to a camp in Utah to spend another 3\1/2\ years in confinement. Despite this mistreatment and injustice, he never lost faith in the United States. Just the opposite--he strived to prove his loyalty to his country and became an internationally recognized champion of Asian- Americans in the process. After World War II, Frank Ogawa returned to Oakland and succeeded in breaking a series of social and racial barriers. When local residents objected to him moving into an exclusive neighborhood, he responded by becoming an integral part of their community and joining a host of previously all-white organizations like the Rotary Club. Having served 5 years on the Oakland Parks Commission, Frank Ogawa was elected to the city council in 1966, making him the first Japanese- American to hold a council seat in a major city in the continental United States. He held that position for 28 years until his passing-- the longest tenure in Oakland's history. From his council seat, he earned a reputation as an even-handed leader who worked diligently to improve cultural awareness, enhance Oakland's economy, expand its port facilities, and establish relations between Oakland and other countries, especially Japan. In fact, Frank Ogawa was largely responsible for establishing a sister city relationship between Oakland and Fukuoka, Japan. Mr. Speaker, Frank Ogawa was one of the finest individuals I have ever had the privilege to know and his passing is a great loss for his family, his community, and our Nation. I ask my colleagues to join me at this time in paying tribute to him, the life of purpose he led, and extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Grace and the family he loved so much. ____________________