Ping Fong Jr.

Ping Fong Jr.’s upbringing in Hughes, Arkansas is full of memories of holiday family gatherings, basketball and track competitions, and a local community that encouraged him to thrive. His family owned a store and farm for much of his childhood. Ping is the youngest of four children with three older sisters: Carolyn, Ping Shong, and Hing.

Unlike many other Chinese American children of his generation, Ping did not have to work in a store during his teenage years. After Ping’s father passed away at age 45, his mother, Sit Shee (Sit Mei Yen), decided to sell the store to continue raising her four children. The free time that Ping had was then dedicated to extracurricular activities. He was involved in a number of school clubs and loved participating in sports. His 5 foot 6 frame may not help him compete in basketball today, but he played well in high school and was quite the track star. Ping won the state wide 100 and 200 yard dashes and his team won the 440 and 880 relays. 

The Chinese population in Hughes, though quite large for such a rural town, was distributed through all age ranges, so Ping was often the only Chinese American student in his grade. He looks back fondly on his time in school where he felt welcomed and encouraged which helped him to grow into an identity that related both to the Chinese community but also with his Caucasian peers. Ping enjoyed the large family gatherings and the Chinese classes that his father would host but he also enjoyed basketball games with his friends, and all he wanted to eat growing up were hamburgers.

Because of Ping’s interest in science and math, his school counselor encouraged him to study engineering at Purdue University. He met his wife, Lucy Fong, while taking summer classes at Memphis State University. Ping enrolled in these summer classes because he “had always felt behind, probably during the whole time I went through college. I felt like I never could catch up.” Famous last words for a man who would go on to earn a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees. 

After many years of moving around for Ping’s work, he and Lucy decided to move back home to Arkansas, settling in Conway. Ping is a prominent leader within the Chinese Association of Arkansas, and a founding member of the  Arkansas Chinese Heritage Project. He acknowledges the need for and importance of community and is thrilled to be back in Arkansas where he can continue preserving the history of Chinese Americans for years to come.

Story by Abby Bunch

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