David Chiu, born in China, lived in Hong Kong and Australia before moving to the United States. He ran for mayor of San Marcos, Texas in 2000, and won, making him the first Asian American to become mayor in the state of Texas. He served for two years when he was defeated in the 2002 election.
Cyndi Munson, born May 24, 1985 in Monterey, California, grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma. She graduated from University of Central Oklahoma with a BA in political science. She first ran for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, but lost to the incumbent. She ran again in 2015 and became the first Asian American woman to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature. She became the minority leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
She announced her gubernatorial bid in April 2025.
Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity, established February 1, 1929 at the University of California at Berkeley, was the first Asian American interest fraternity. At the time, UC-Berkeley fraternities typically discriminated against men of color, so three students decided to start a fraternity for the several hundred students of Chinese descent enrolled there.
The fraternity encouraged its members to learn Asian-American culture, heritage, and history. Pi Alpha Phi became national when Beta chapter was established at Stony Brook University in 1990. By 2014, it had expanded to ten chapters, an associate chapter, and six colonies.
Unfortunately, in 2020, its National Board of directors put a moratorium on chapter activities after multiple reports of sexual misconduct. In November 2021, a pledge died after a hazing incident and three people were hospitalized. The fraternity announced the closure of all chapters in August 2023.
Soyuz TMA-09M, launched May 28, 2013, carried three astronauts to the International Space Station. Its crew consisted of Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, Luca Parmitano (ESA), and Karen Nyberg (NASA). They participated in Expedition 36 on the ISS and returned to Earth in November 2013, after 166 days in space.
Kuma Elizabeth Ohi, born February 9, 1911 in Chicago, Illinois, became the first Japanese American female to practice law in the United States in 1937.
She was detained after the attack on Pearl Harbor, but Arthur Goldberg, the attorney for whom Ohi was working as a clerk, intervened. She served as an ensign in the US Navy, and afterwards moved to Washington, DC. She became an attorney at the Office of Management and Budget and the US Department of Labor.
Back to the Future and Fright Night each won three Saturn Awards at the annual ceremony held by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films on May 28, 1986. Ladyhawke won two awards.
Back to the Future won Best Science Fiction Film, Best Actor for Michael J. Fox for his performance as Marty McFly, and Best Special Effects for Kevin Pike.
Fright Night won Best Horror Film, Best Supporting Actor for Roddy McDowall for his performance as Peter Vincent, and Best Writing for Tom Holland (not of Spider-man fame).
Ladyhawke won Best Fantasy Film and Best Costumes for Nana Cecchi.
Anne Ramsey won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Mama Fratelli in The Goonies.
Back to the Future won an Oscar for Special Effects and nominated for three more, but since this was a Steven Spielberg movie, it had more of a wider appeal to audiences than the others at the Saturn Awards. None of the science fiction, fantasy, and horror films that year were nominated for any acting Oscars. Of the ones that did receive nominations, they were only nominated for the technical awards.
Eric Shinseki was born November 28, 1942 in Lihue, Kaua'i, Hawai'ian territory to a family of Japanese ancestry. His grandparents emigrated from Hiroshima to Hawai'i in 1901.
Taking inspiration from his uncles, he graduated from the US Military Academy in 1965 and was commissioned as second lieutenant. He served two tours in the Vietnam War. The first was with the 9th and 25th Infantry Divisions as an artillery observer; and then as commander of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 5th Calvary.
He was injured by a land mine, but recovered and returned to active duty in 1971. For his service, he was awarded three Bronze Star Medals and two Purple Hearts.
He became the first Asian American four-star general. In 2009, the US Senate unanimously confirmed Shinseki as the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, becoming the first Asian American to hold the position. He resigned in 2014 after a scandal involving the Veteran Health Administration.
