Southwest Chinese Journal (Houston, Tex.), Vol. [1], Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 1, 1976 Page: 12 of 16
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12
Southwest Chinese Journal
DEC. 1 1976
ELSIE HUANG
(JlXHit 0/ to (Ut C^ALCXliM/
By Judy Lee
It doesn't take very long to realize when talking to
Elsie Huang that this is a lady who enjoys doing and
achieving. She gesticulates when she talks and her
speech is rapidfire: relating the facts of her life-
story, jumping off track momentarily to recall a hum-
orous incident, and intermittant1y throwing out her
philosophy on life, God, family - you name it.
Elsie Huang was born a Lee in Tuscon, Arizona,
but moved to Houston in 19^9 after the death of her
parents. She came here to live with her sister and
brother-in-law, Mae and Allan Lim.
She attended Thomas Jefferson Elementry, Marshall
Jr. High, and Jeff Davis Sr. High. Already then was
she active in organizations, holding offices in var-
ious school clubs and being voted the Most Friendly
Senior girl.
The Chinese population of Houston back in the
1950's was a small, but close knit one. Many of the
teenagers belonged to the Dragoneers Club- the earliest
Chinese youth social club. Mrs. Huang and her husband
C.C. were members as were Beck and Joyce Gee, Mary and
June Shem, Susie and David Gee, Mary Ann and Taylor
Wong, Nancy (Leo) Wong, George Gee, Hobart Joe,
Henry Lim and many others.
After high school Elsie married C.C. Huang, who
is presently working with the McDermott Hudson Engi-
neering Corp. One of her first jobs was working as
a secretary and public relations person for Raymond
Hu, of the Chinese Consulate. At that time there ex-
isted much open discrimination against Chinese and so
the role of the public relations person was to educate
Houstonians about the Chinese culture. This was not
a hard role to slip into for someone who is outgoing
and likes to talk about the Chinese customs.
Mrs. Huang decided to continue her education by
going back to college. Although she could no longer
work for the Chinese Consul, she continued her ambas-
sador role by opening the Li Wah Oriental Gift Shop
along with partner Bowman Joe in 1957. It was located
next to the Ming Palace Restaurant in the River Oaks
Shopping Center. By running the shop and going to
school, she chalked up a wide range of experiences,
and met all kinds of interesting people.
In early 1959 a new activity replaced her school-
ing and the business; that was the arrival of a daugh-
ter, Karen. But she stayed home only a year before
launching into something new again - beauty salons.
Within a 10 year span Mrs. Huang attended beauty
school and attained her license, opened two salons of
her own (one in the Gulfgate area, the other in West-
bury), welcomed the arrival of a son, Michael, and did
volunteer work with the YWCA giving lectures on beauty
to teenage girls. In appreciation for her work, she
was made Director of the Peden Branch
One would think that if you have
business going, you would continue to
energies and time in it to make it grow. Instead
Mrs. Huang opted for self growth and returned to col-
lege in 1969. At UH she majored in education and ex-
YWCA.
a successful
pool a 11 your
celled in her studies.
her senior year, she was
one of only 12 chosen for a special internship pro-
gram where rather than student teach, she was employ-
ed as and observed as a full teacher befor receiving
her degree.
Chinese Wisdom
Some who do not save in times of plenty
regret it in times of need; some who do
not study in youth regret it on occasions
when knowledge is of use; some who talk
freely when drunk regret it when they are
sober; some who do not give themselves a
little rest in the days of their health
regret it when they are confined to bed.
fm
. .
Pi 1 1 W-
her
she
and
the
While continuing to teach at Cypress-Fairbanks
High School, Mrs. Huang returned to UH where she earned
her Masters degree in education in I 1/2 years, and
Administrative Certification. At Cypress Fairbanks
has been involved in and served on many committees,
has taken an active role in the local chapter of
Texas State Teachers Association.
Because of her commitment to and work in the field
of education, she was recently invited to join the
Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an interna-
tional honor society for educators. Its members and
past members include Margaret Mead, Pat Nixon, Pearl
Buck and Eleanor Roosevelt. Membership in this or-
ganization is a great honor and achievement, and only
5% of all person in the field of education in the U.S.
have been invited to join.
Mrs. Huang feels that a higher education is not
a neccessity to be successful in life for everyone,
but it is a definite asset which should be strived
for if you make it your goal. Congruent to this belief,
Elsie Huang has been active for the past 20 years in
the Houston Chinese Professional Club's efforts to
help college students by awarding annual scholarships.
Also very active in the Chinese Baptist Church,
Mrs. Huang feels gratitude first to God, and then to
her family and friends. They have always encouraged
her and given their support in every way: from pep
talks from friends like Joyce and Paul Fan, to help
with the cooking from her children, Karen and Michael
by "putting on the rice".
Elsie Huang is best described by her own words,
"I'm a very goal oriented person. I belive strongly
hard work and that God helps those who help them-
1 n
se
ves
20th Anniversary Celebration at GRACE CHAPEL
BAPTIST CHURCH.... Dr. and Mrs. Hong Sit,
Dr. Katharine Hsu, Consul General K. C. Dunn,
Dr. Andrew Loo and Mrs. June Dove Leong.
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Southwest Chinese Journal (Houston, Tex.), Vol. [1], Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 1, 1976, newspaper, December 1, 1976; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth273730/m1/12/?q=%22~1~1~1~1%22~1&rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.