Matt Fong

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Life and educationEdit

Fong was born in Alameda, California. He was the adopted son of March Fong Eu, a Democrat who served as the 25th California Secretary of State.<ref name="OaklandTribuneObituary">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="LATimesObituary">Template:Cite news</ref> He graduated from Skyline High School, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree at the United States Air Force Academy in 1975.

In 1982, he received an MBA at Pepperdine University, and in 1985 attained his J.D. degree at the Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles.<ref name="OaklandTribuneObituary" /><ref name="LATimesObituary" />

Public careerEdit

Fong retired from his Air Force Reserve assignment at The Pentagon, serving as an adviser to the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force on budget and finance<ref name="SeismicWarningSystems">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve.<ref name="OaklandTribuneObituary" /><ref name="LATimesObituary" />

California politicsEdit

In 1990, Fong unsuccessfully ran for California State Controller, where he lost to Democrat Gray Davis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1991, Fong was appointed to the State Board of Equalization by Governor Pete Wilson.<ref name="OaklandTribuneObituary" /> Fong would serve as Vice Chairman of the board from 1991 to 1994.<ref> "Matthew K. Fong." Notable Asian Americans. Gale Research, 1995. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC Document Number: K1620000046. Fee. Updated: December 30, 1995. Retrieved December 12, 1995.</ref>

In 1994, Fong ran to succeed Kathleen Brown as State Treasurer. Fong defeated Democrat Phil Angelides to secure a four-year term beginning in January 1995.<ref name="OaklandTribuneObituary" /><ref name="LATimesObituary" />

In the 1998 U.S. Senate election, he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent California Senator Barbara Boxer.<ref name="OaklandTribuneObituary" /><ref name="LATimesObituary" /> Fong earned endorsements from national Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and House Speaker Newt Gingrich.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Private sector careerEdit

He was president of the Strategic Advisory Group, providing counsel to CEOs and senior executives on strategy and business development. He was also Special Counsel to the law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton.<ref name="OaklandTribuneObituary" /> Fong held Series 7 and 63 securities licenses and was a principal of Belstar Group, a New York-based asset manager.<ref name="SeismicWarningSystems" />

Fong was an independent director of TCW Group's complex of mutual funds. He also served on two technology start-up companies' boards of directors—one dealing with earthquake detection devices (Seismic Warning Systems) and the other involved with energy-saving devices (American Grid).<ref name="SeismicWarningSystems" />

U.S. President George W. Bush appointed Fong chairman of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Advisory Board.<ref name="OaklandTribuneObituary" /> Fong also served as a Regent of Pepperdine University<ref name="LATimesObituary" /> and a Trustee of Southwestern University School of Law.<ref name="SeismicWarningSystems" />

Personal lifeEdit

Fong lived in Pasadena, California with his wife, Paula, with whom he had two children: Matthew II and Jade. Fong died of cancer in his Pasadena home on June 1, 2011. He was buried at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the time of his death he was survived by his mother, his wife, and children.<ref name="OaklandTribuneObituary" /><ref name="LATimesObituary" />

ReferencesEdit

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