Tom Hom

Thomas Edward Hom (born Hom Cheuck Ngee; February 15, 1927) is an American politician in the state of California. He served in the California State Assembly from 1968 to 1970. Hom represented the 79th Assembly District; he was the second Asian American elected to the California State Legislature.

Background and early life Hom's father came to the United States when he was only 15 years old with little cash aboard the Manchuria in 1909, changing his name to David due to influence from Presbyterian missionaries in China. In all he fathered 12 children. Hom's father named him after Thomas Edison;

Beginning at the age of 15, he began to work at the family business, David Produce Company, and then graduated from San Diego High School. During World War II, Hom worked on a farm which his family had taken over from a Japanese American family; the farm was located on the present site of SDCCU Stadium. In 1947, he moved to North Park with his stepmother, overcoming racial covenants which would have barred them. Before becoming a politician Hom held multiple jobs, including work in food service, agriculture, and broadcasting. When Hom was re-elected in 1967, he won with 87% of the vote, this has been largest plurality of the vote in any election in San Diego. While a politician, Hom was involved in getting San Diego Stadium built, and the gentrification of the Gaslamp Quarter.

Post-political career Founding a real estate company, named after himself, Hom played a major role in developing downtown San Diego; Hom was the first president of the Gaslamp Quarter Association in 1982. Remaining involved in public policy Hom made an effort to save buildings important to the history of Chinese Americans in San Diego, criticizing reports on historical significance that lacked input from the Chinese American community. In the late 1990s his company went on to expand into projects in the Las Vegas area; this included low cost housing, with the construction of Campaige Place in 2000.

Personal life His family owned the Western Metal Supply Company, which was integrated into Petco Park when it was constructed. He was married to his wife Dorothy for 48 years until her death from cancer in 1999. In 2013, she was posthumously entered into the Hall of Fame of the Women's Museum of California. He married again, to Loretta, with whom he practices Tai Chi. That same year the Rotary Club of San Diego presented to Hom the "Mr. San Diego" award, and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer declared the day when he received the award to be Tom Hom Day. , Hom resides in Southeast Chula Vista. In 2017, his art work was displayed at the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum.