Martha Wong | |
|---|---|
| Member of theTexas House of Representatives from the 134th district | |
| In office January 14, 2003 – January 9, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Kyle Janek |
| Succeeded by | Ellen Cohen |
| Member of theHouston City Council from the C district | |
| In office January 2, 1994 – January 2, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Vince Ryan |
| Succeeded by | Mark Goldberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1939-01-20)January 20, 1939 (age 86) Houston,Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | University of Texas, Austin (BS) University of Houston (MEd,EdD) |
Dr.Martha Jee Wong, bornMartha Jee, (born January 20, 1939)[1] is a Texas politician who was the firstAsian American woman to be elected to theTexas House of Representatives, representingHouston's District 134.[2][3] She served from 2002 to 2006 as a Republican. Moreover, she was the first Asian American woman part of Texas Spirits, an honorary spirit, service, and social organization on the campus of University of Texas at Austin. Texas Spirits is the oldest spirit organization at the University of Texas, founded in 1941.
Wong was born atSt. Joseph Hospital in January 1939.[4]
Wong lived in theHouston Heights, initially within her parents' grocery business and later.[5] She attended Hogg Junior High School,[6] and then Reagan High School (nowHeights High School) inHouston.[1] In 1993, she became theHouston City Council's first elected Asian American Councilwoman, and was elected to three successive terms. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and both a master's degree and doctorate from the University of Houston.[7][8]
In 2020, Wong was appointed by GovernorGreg Abbott as the Chairwoman of theTexas State Library and Archives Commission.[9] In 2023, she made the decision as Chair for the State of Texas to leave its membership with theAmerican Library Association after political pressure from Republican lawmaker Brian Harrison following the election ofEmily Drabinski as the President of the American Library Association.[10]
| Civic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vince Ryan | Member of theHouston City Council from the C district January 2, 1994–January 2, 2000 | Succeeded by Mark Goldberg |
| Texas House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theTexas House of Representatives from the 134th district January 14, 2003–January 9, 2007 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
