Mae Yih

Mae Yih (born Chih Feng Dunn May 24, 1928) is a former member of both houses of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oregon. She is the first Chinese American to serve in a state senate in the United States.

Early life and education Yih was born Chih Feng Dunn on May 24, 1928, in Shanghai, China, to Chun Woo and Fung Wen Feng Dunn. Her family was quite well off, with her father owning two textile mills, a nightclub and hotel that is now the Peace Hotel, and an automobile dealership. She attended a girls' school, which relocated to a foreign concession during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, and finished her high school education in 1946. Following high school, Dunn began her college education at St. John's University in Shanghai.

In September 1948, Dunn transferred to Barnard College in New York City, graduating in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in economics. While at Barnard, the president of the college, Millicent McIntosh, encouraged the students to be involved in decision making. Yih took office in 1977. She went on to serve three two-year terms in the House. Yih introduced and passed legislation to establish sister state relationship with Fujian province, China in 1983. She accompanied Oregon governor Atiyeh to sign the agreement with Governor of Fujian province in 1984. Yih organized legislative leadership trade delegation to visit Fujian province and other cities in China in 1992, 1997, 2000, and 2002. Yih was awarded Honorary Citizen of Fujian Province in 1994.

Following her retirement in 2003, Yih received the Distinguished Service Award from the Albany Chamber of Commerce.

Personal life On June 7, 1953, Dunn married noted metallurgist Stephen Yih at the Riverside Church in New York City. He worked for Wah Chang Corporation, which transferred him to Albany, Oregon in 1956. Yih accompanied him on the move. Stephen Yih was the founder of Wah Chang Corporation in Albany and was president for 20 years. He died in March 2009. They had two sons—Donald, a physician, and Daniel, an attorney—and four grandchildren. Yih is a member of the Episcopal Church.