Frank H. Ogawa
Encyclopedia
Frank H. Ogawa was a civil rights leader and the first Japanese American
to serve on the Oakland City Council in which he served from 1966 until his death in 1994. Upon his death, the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to rename City Hall Plaza in his honor as the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
. The plaza displays a bronze bust of Ogawa.
A Nisei
, Ogawa was born in Lodi, California
and never lived in Japan. Nevertheless, as Japanese Americans, the U.S. government involuntarily relocated
Ogawa's family members to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Millard County, Utah and they were detained there for the duration of World War II
. Ogawa married Grace Ogawa (née Hiruma) prior to their wartime detention and they had two children -- Alan and Nancy. Nancy was born in the Topaz War Relocation Center but died at age 2.
After the war, Ogawa returned to Oakland where he found work as a gardener. Eventually, he borrowed and saved enough money to open his own nursery.
When Ogawa died, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
, in her Tribute to Frank H. Ogawa, said:
She went on to say
Ogawa was a member of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
(BCDC) from 1972 to 1988, having been appointed to the Commission by the Association of Bay Area Governments
.
Ogawa served on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Board of Directors from 1979 until 1992 when he had to retire from the Board because of health issues. He served as Chairman of the Board during most of 1987 and served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board's Executive Committee and Personnel Committee.
Ogawa was a Republican
. However, he never held nor was he ever a candidate for any partisan office.
As a public official, Ogawa was known as kind, optimistic, and adept at building consensus.
In about December 1988, Ogawa underwent successful heart surgery
.
Ogawa died in Oakland on July 13, 1994, of lung cancer
. He was survived by his wife Grace, son Alan, and by two grandchildren, Courtney and Matthew.
More than 600 people, including a representative of Oakland's sister city of Fukuoka, Japan
, attended Ogawa's memorial service.
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
to serve on the Oakland City Council in which he served from 1966 until his death in 1994. Upon his death, the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to rename City Hall Plaza in his honor as the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Frank H. Ogawa Plaza is a historic location in the heart of downtown Oakland, California.-Location and elements:Frank H. Ogawa Plaza is located where Telegraph and San Pablo Avenues converge with Broadway and 14th Street. The west side of the plaza is the site of Oakland City Hall and Oakland...
. The plaza displays a bronze bust of Ogawa.
A Nisei
Nisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
, Ogawa was born in Lodi, California
Lodi, California
Lodi is a city located in , in the northern portion of California's Central Valley. The population was 62,134 at the 2010 census. The California Department of Finance's population estimate as of January 1, 2011 is 62,473....
and never lived in Japan. Nevertheless, as Japanese Americans, the U.S. government involuntarily relocated
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
Ogawa's family members to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Millard County, Utah and they were detained there for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Ogawa married Grace Ogawa (née Hiruma) prior to their wartime detention and they had two children -- Alan and Nancy. Nancy was born in the Topaz War Relocation Center but died at age 2.
After the war, Ogawa returned to Oakland where he found work as a gardener. Eventually, he borrowed and saved enough money to open his own nursery.
When Ogawa died, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
Anna Eshoo
Anna Georges Eshoo is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, which includes part of Silicon Valley, includes the cities of Redwood City, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto...
, in her Tribute to Frank H. Ogawa, said:
"Frank Ogawa was a remarkable person because he could take personal misfortune and turn it into a positive learning experience for himself and others. When Frank and Grace Ogawa were forced to sell their belongings and live in internment camps during World War II, they had to sleep on straw mattresses in horse stalls for six months before being
shipped to a camp in Utah to spend another 3 1/2 years in confinement. Despite this mistreatment and injustice, he never lost faith in the United States. Just the opposite--he strived to prove his loyalty to his country and became an internationally recognized champion of Asian-Americans in the process."
She went on to say
"Having served five years on the Oakland Parks Commission, Frank Ogawa was elected to the city council in 1966, making him the first Japanese-American to hold a council seat in a major city in the continental United StatesContiguous United StatesThe contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
. He held that position for 28 years until his passing -- the longest tenure in Oakland's history."
Ogawa was a member of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission is a California State commission dedicated to the protection, enhancement and responsible use of the San Francisco Bay. The Commission was created by California's McAteer-Petris Act, which the legislature passed on September 17 1965...
(BCDC) from 1972 to 1988, having been appointed to the Commission by the Association of Bay Area Governments
Association of Bay Area Governments
The Association of Bay Area Governments is a regional planning agency incorporating various local governments in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It deals with land use, housing, environmental quality, and economic development. Non-profit organizations as well as governmental...
.
Ogawa served on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Bay Area Air Quality Management District
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is a public agency that regulates the stationary sources of air pollution in the nine counties of California's San Francisco Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, southwestern Solano, and southern Sonoma...
Board of Directors from 1979 until 1992 when he had to retire from the Board because of health issues. He served as Chairman of the Board during most of 1987 and served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board's Executive Committee and Personnel Committee.
Ogawa was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. However, he never held nor was he ever a candidate for any partisan office.
As a public official, Ogawa was known as kind, optimistic, and adept at building consensus.
In about December 1988, Ogawa underwent successful heart surgery
Cardiac surgery
Cardiovascular surgery is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. Frequently, it is done to treat complications of ischemic heart disease , correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease from various causes including endocarditis, rheumatic heart...
.
Ogawa died in Oakland on July 13, 1994, of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. He was survived by his wife Grace, son Alan, and by two grandchildren, Courtney and Matthew.
More than 600 people, including a representative of Oakland's sister city of Fukuoka, Japan
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
, attended Ogawa's memorial service.