The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING ANTHONY J. WONG
______
HON. DWIGHT EVANS
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Monday, September 27, 2021
Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an influential and dedicated gentleman from Philadelphia, Anthony J. Wong, a devoted public servant, and former Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector who died on September 8, 2021 at the age of 93.
Anthony J. Wong was born in Philadelphia on April 17, 1928 and was the only child of Chinese immigrants who owned a restaurant in Chinatown. After high school, he joined the Army and served in the World War II Occupation Forces in Europe. He also served in the Korean War. In the Army, he served in counterintelligence, as interrogator, a translator, and in the military police.
Inspector Wong dedicated his life and career to this country and to the city of Philadelphia. He joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1953 after serving in the U.S. Army. At that time, he was the sole Chinese American officer on the force. He retired from the police force in 2003 as the highest-ranking officer of Asian American descent.
While in the Philadelphia Police Department, Mr. Wong served in several units, including in narcotics, vice enforcement, and patrol. He twice led the Training Bureau and commanded the Community Relations Division and the Patrol Bureau, which encompassed emergency planning. His last assignment was as Commanding Officer of the Police Training Bureau at the Police Academy.
Mr. Wong was well rounded and highly respected by many. A man with many talents, he spoke multiple languages. He attended the University of Vienna in Austria, the Fels Institute of Local and State Government at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Universal School of Languages and Translation Bureau.
Additionally, Mr. Wong was a college adjunct professor. He taught criminal justice, criminal investigation, and laws and procedures at the Community College of Philadelphia. He was fluent in German and used his skills to help Jewish concentration camp survivors who relocated to Philadelphia.
Furthermore, he was very active in his community. He was a founding member of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp. (PCDC), which was founded in 1969 after the Chinatown community in Philadelphia began fighting plans to demolish Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and School to build the Vine Street Expressway. Although he was a police captain and could not partake in the street protests, he attended meetings and offered his expertise. He was also on the board of the On Lok House, an apartment building for low-income senior citizens. According to Cecilia Moy Yep, the PCDC founder, Mr. Wong was ``very faithful to Chinatown. He was active in the meetings, particularly on the On Lok House. That was his baby.''
As evidenced by his historic career Anthony J. Wong, dedicated his life to advocating and improving the lives of others. He was a model public servant. The 3rd Congressional District of Pennsylvania extends gratitude to Mr. Wong for his dedicated support and service to the Chinatown community and the city of Philadelphia. And offer sincere condolences to his family and friends on his passing.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 168
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