CHANG STORIES
Born in Shantou, Guangdong Province, China, in 12/17/1934
Hong Kong, in 1937 (I was 2-1/2 years old) while my parents were in Beijing.
Separated from our parents during the Shantou invasion, lived with Aunt in Kowloon from 1936
to 1940 while going to nursery school in Kowloon Diocesan Girls' School.
When the Japanese invading Japanese troops were close to Hong Kong we escaped back to Japanese occupied Shantou by boat (No other place that we can escape to).
Met parents in Shantou after 4 years of separation (I was 6-1/2 years old).
Remembered constant bombing, executions and killing during the Japanese occupation. We have a very large mansion (2 city blocks in size) and was protected by the US Embassy before the US went to war with Japan because we were doing business with the US at the time (We were the largest textile manufactural with the US). We have painted a large US flage on our roof so that the Chinese bombers will not bomb our house. After Pearl Harbor in 1941 the US declared war with Japan and we lost our protection and the Japanese soldiers arrested my parents and kept them in the concentration camp. My brother, my sister and myself just left the house early in the morning for school and saw a parade of military trucks with Japanese soldiers coming down the street towards my house. We watched but not realized that they are coming to make the arrest of our family. We went to school as usual. While in the class room my aunt Barbara Lim came to school and told us that the Japanese soldiers had arrested everyone in our house and we should leave immediately with her to hide in her house. Many months later our parents were released and allowed to return to our house again. We lived under occupation by the Japanese until the 2nd World War was over in 1945. During the occupation we witness constance bombing and killing. We have a very large mansion and was mistaken by the Allied intelligence that our house is used by the Japanese as their headquater. One full moon night a large contingence of bombers came to bomb our house using the carpet bombing technics. The bombs had missed our house by the 6' wide alley in the back of the mansion. They wiped out tens of blocks of building. Our concrete roof was full of bullet holes from the guns of the bombers. I slept hrough the entire bombing on the 2nd floor when my family were all at the basement concrete shelter. When they noticed that I was missing they sent the servent up to look for me. I was fast asleep when the servent woke me up and told me about the massing bombing. I remembered that I jumped out of bed and ran down to the basement bomb shelter without my shoes on. I also remembered next morning I walking out of my house to go to school all we saw were bodies all over the sidewalks. Many of our friends and relative were killed during all the bombings. We made deal with our friends that they were get people to dig us out if we were bombed and we will do the same for them. At the end of the war more revenge killing of the Japanese collaborators during the time between when the Japanese soldiers left the city and before the Chinese Nationalist soldiers came to town. 1946, my brother and I went to Kowloon to study at the Diocesan Boy's School because no good schools left in China right after the war. My mother was very upset that we are leaving the family again and I remembered my father told her and us the education was the most important thing for us and worth the pain of separation. 1950, the Communist troops were getting close to attack Hong Kong. Again our family had to find ways to escape the fighting. I went to Sydney, Australia by myself to study and my brother went to Canada. All I remember when we were young is that we are running all the times.
Life in Australia - See article below:
1952, came to US for advanced flight training and ended up in UC Berkeley
During this period Chinatown only had a few restaurants - We usually went to SF Study in Math & Phisics, then switched to Aeronautical Engineering. Took aptitude test. Ministry-1st & Artist- 2nd. Switched to Architecture (closest to arts)
1960, Married Constance Poon (met in the Westminster House at UC)
1961, graduated from UC School of Environmental Design (Architecture) 1961, worked for Novelli Engineering Co. in Downrown Oakland 1962, worked for Hugh M. O'Neil Company as Architect. 1966, built our new home at 6571 Longwalk Drive for $29,000 (Land for $2,000) 1968, lost house to laundry room fire 1969, rebuilt house 1972, established my own practice under- Henry Chang Jr. & Associates, Inc. First project is the Silver Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown (1st new building in Chinatown) 1974, appointed by Mayor John Reading as Oakland City Planning Commissioner (6 years) 1980, served as the Community Development Commissioner for 10 years 1990, Served as Port Commissioner 1992, Appointed by governor Pete Wilson as the Bay Conservation & Development
Commissioner, representing the State of California.
1994, Appointed by State General Service as one of 3 Members of the JPA to oversee the
development and construction of the State Building in Oakland.
1994, Start serving as Council Member At-Large for the City of Oakland.
1996, re-elected 2000, re-elected 2004, re-elected, term ends 2008 (14 years total by the end of 2008)
HENRY CHANG JR. (Some repeats of information of above)
Worked for Novelli engineering Firm in 1960. Worked for Hugh O'Neil Structural Engineer from 1962-1970.
Resident of the East Bay for nearly 70 years, with 60 of those in Oakland
Built own house in the Oakland Hill (Piedmont Pines area) in 1965. Lost home by fire from the clothes dryer in 1967. Rebuilt home again (lived one year in motel/hotel/rental house with kids) Owner of an Architecture & Urban Design/Real Estate Development Co. since 1971. He is also the owner of Galaxy Travel Agency in Oakland (19__ to 2005) Igloo Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop in Chinatown (19__ to 19__).
Henry is an Oakland City Councilmember At-Large since 1994. His present term ends in
December 2008.
He has served as Vice Mayor for 4 terms
Henry always has been active in the Oakland community. He has served in many Local & Regional
Commissions starting in 1973 :
1973 He was appointed to the Oakland City Planning Commission & served for 5 years
1980 He was appointed to the Oakland Community Development Commission for10 years
1990 He was appointed to the Oakland Board of Port Commission
He was appointed to the S.F. Bay Conservation & Development Commission by the
governor to represent the state.
He was the State appointee to the 3 member Oakland State Building Authority
At Present beside being an At-Large Councilmember he is also a member of the: Alameda County Transportation Authority (Chair) Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (Chair)
Oakland Base Reuse Authority
Alameda Base Reuse and Redevelopment Authority
Association of Bay Area Governments
East Bay Base Re-use Commission Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention JPA Chair of the Land Hazard JPA Chair of the Port Laison Committee
Taking leadership roles in the community since 1967 (over 40 years)
Board member of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Henry is also very active with the Lions Clubs International Organization and served as:
Deputy District Governor of the Lions International District 4C3
President of the Oakland Chinatown Lions Club Started the Miss Oakland Chinatown Pageants Henry has received many awards including:
“Americanism Awards” presented by the Daughters of American Revolution.
“Immigrant of the Year” presented by the International Institute Henry & his wife Connie have four grown children and 5 grand children. HENRY CHANG JR.
Born in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, China on December 17th 1934
Different Periods of my life:
Education & Degrees:
B) Escape to Hong Kong
C) Return to Shantou before Japanese Invasion of HK
D) Life during Japanese Occupation
E) 2nd World War after Pearl Harbor
F) War End
G) Went to HK for schooling
H) Went to Sydney for schooling
I) Went to US for schooling
J) Life in Berkeley
K) Life after graduation
Owner of an Architecture & Urban Design/Real Estate Development Co. since 1971.
L) Start of Community Involvement
Henry is also very active with the Lions Clubs International Organization and served as:
1974 He was appointed to the Oakland City Planning Commission & served for 5 years
M) Start of political elected career
At Present beside being a Councilmember he is also a member of the:
Henry has received many awards including:
Henry & his wife Connie have Life in Australia
Attending Knox College - Military Style School Coming to the US via Boeing Strato Cruiser. What happen in Honolulu with no cash. Checked into the hotel, was told that I have to pay the bill when I check out. Nobody told me that the hotel room is not paid for. I only have US$20 in my pocket when I left Sydney. By now I only have $2 left. I checked my address book and found an old address of a uncle that lives in Honolulu. No phone number. I talked to a taxi driver at the hotel and he said that the cost will be less than $2. I have no choice but to get on the taxi and to look for my uncle. I tried hard to remember all the streets so that in case I have to walk back I will know how. When the taxi arrived the address I went to the door. Some one came to the door. A young lady. I told her who I am looking for and that was her father. She recognized my name and was vey surprise to see me. Wow !! What a load off my shoulder. Went inside and have a meal. Have not eaten for a day (no money). Uncle Chang took me to the hotel and checked me out and brought me to stay with them. Lucky me that I found my long lost uncle. Arriving in SF. Met by my old school friend from Hong Kong. I have a 6 hours stop over before I continue to fly to the east coast on my way to Miami to check in at the Aviation Training Center. My friend gave me a quick tour of the Bay area. Went to UC Berkeley. I was totally impressed by the size of the university (like a small city). I told myself that I want to go there. I remembered that I went to the Admission office and met a grey hair lady and I told her that want to study here. She asked me if I have a high school diploma (I left Sydney before I complete the high school). I told her that I really want to study here and she can change my life if she give me a chance to prove that I can do it or else in 3 hours my plane will leave SFO and I will be a pilot the rest of my life. She took a chance on me and accepted me in the University without any paper. (Chancellor Tien loved to tell this story). This was in 1952 and I live here in the Bay Area since. Love the military, went to the ROTC office and talked to an Airforce officer that I want to join the ROTC. Was told that I have to be a citizn to join. I told him that I am a pilot and will promise to get my citizenship ASAP. He took me in. Did well in ROTC because of my military academy training before in Australia and also my flight training. Have my own plane while going to school. A good dancer. Has a lot of money. Became very popular because I took the girl in my plane and fly up to Reno to have dinner at nice places. Plenty of opportunity to date girls but airplane is still my first love. Spent most of my free time at the airport working on the plane.
Magic: My father liked magic and had a lot of magic equipment at home.
Introduction to the US police system. Hit and run. Law suit. Etc. During the Summer everyone is working. I want to be like everyone and tried hard to get a job. Not for the money but to be like everyone. Tried to work for the canery but unable because they want to hire only union workers. Finally got a job to do scientific instrument illustration for $0.35/hr. Story of working late on an architecture project and the girls next door played a trick on me. Turkey leg in my bed under the blanket. Wow!! Hundreds of ants. Taught social dancing with the UC instructor at the Student Union. Prince Toro - Approached by a British actress in front of the paramount theater. They are looking for a tall Asian to play the part of Prince Toro in a play “Madam Sen”. I was invited to meet the producer (the fat boy of our gang) at their reception after the ballet. They gave me the lead part of the play as Prince Toro (a little bit like Madam Butterfly).
How I met Connie and difficulty with the mother in law.
Dress with suit and tie going to school. Worked for Hugh O'Neil after Cal. A good bunch of engineers and architects. Hugh cared a lot of all his workers. Wanted us to go to the gym to work out every morning before coming to work. He actually handed out our pay checks at the gym. He is the first one to equip our cars with seat belts before it's the law.
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN CHINA
GIANT PANDA STORY (12 YEARS OF SWEAT)
GUN CONTROL & PUBLIC SAFETY
ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION
IN POLITICS (Comments from the Montclairian)
LOVE OF FLYING
MUSIC
TENNIS
SKINNY
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Henry Chang Jr. & Associates, Inc.
Listing of some typical completed projects:
Franklin Tower, a 14-story Class-A Office Building at Franklin and Sutter Streets in
Luxury Apartment units at Sutter and Webster Streets, San Francisco Japan Town
220 - Townhouse Complex “Harvard Grove” in Reno, Nevada
El Cerrito Shopping Center in El Cerrito, California
Shopping Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
Shopping Center in Fremont, California
Various Commercial and Office Buildings in Oakland Chinatown, California
Chinese Garden Project - Hall of Pioneer/Main Meeting Hall/Pagoda/Pavilion/9-turn Bridge
Luxury Apartment units located in Concord, California
Apartment at Dixon Street, Hayward, California
Housing project “Oak Center No. 1” in West Oakland under Federal 236 program.
40 plus Federal government Turnkey Section-8 projects completed by this office in various Bay Area cities
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
¨
HENRY CHANG JR.
Different Periods of my life:
During birth my mother was critically ill with excessive bleeding. Received the Honorary Doctor of Law from the Armstrong University in 2002.
Resident of the East Bay for nearly 53 years, with 43 of those in Oakland
Drummer - RC Plane - Travel Stories - Saudi Arabia / Iran / Amsterdam / London / Chinese plane hit bird / Connie found father alive in China -
Owner of an Architecture & Urban Design/Real Estate Development Co. since 1971. He is also the owner of Galaxy Travel Agency in Oakland.
Henry is an Oakland City Councilmember At-Large since 1994. His present term ends in
December 2008.
He has served as Vice Mayor for two terms
Henry always has been active in the Oakland community. He has served in many Local & Regional
Commissions starting in 1974 :
1974 He was appointed to the Oakland City Planning Commission & served for 5 years
1980 He was appointed to the Oakland Community Development Commission for10 years
1990 He was appointed to the Oakland Board of Port Commission
He was appointed to the S.F. Bay Conservation & Development Commission by the
governor to represent the state.
He was the State appointee to the 3 member Oakland State Building Authority
At Present beside being a Councilmember he is also a member of the: Alameda County Transportation Authority
Oakland Base Reuse Authority
Alameda Base Reuse and Redevelopment Authority
Association of Bay Area Governments
East Bay Base Re-use Commission Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention JPA
Taking leadership roles in the community since 1967 (36 years)
Board member of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Henry is also very active with the Lions Clubs International Organization and served as:
Deputy District Governor of the Lions International District 4C3
President of the Oakland Chinatown Lions Club Henry has received many awards including:
“Americanism Awards” presented by the Daughters of American Revolution.
“Immigrant of the Year” presented by the International Institute USTA Diversity Awards 2008 USTA Captain of the Year Award 208 Frank Mar Award 2009 Henry & his wife Connie have 4 grown children Harrison / Elizabeth / Evelyn / Maria 6 grand children Matthew / Lauren / Alexandria / Julia / Samuel / Geo |