Chinese-American professionals honor City of DeLand

Receiving an award — DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar accepts the first Lue Gim Gong Award from architect C.T. Hsu.

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SPECIAL TO THE BEACON

posted Oct 14, 2009 - 9:13:46am

The City of DeLand has received the first Lue Gim Gong Award, inspired by the revolutionary Chinese citrus developer who made his home in DeLand from 1884 until his death in 1925.

DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar accepted the award Sept. 11 at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Chinese American Scholars and Professionals Association of Florida. The honor was presented by architect C.T. Hsu, the organization’s outgoing president and the architect who designed DeLand’s City Hall.

Also attending the gala were the mayor’s wife, Teresa Apgar; City Manager Michael Pleus; West Volusia Historical Society Executive Director Bill Dreggors; Historical Society President Suzan Glick; and other West Volusians.

It was at the grand opening of the DeLand City Hall in 2007 that Hsu became aware of the West Volusia Historical Society’s efforts to honor the life and keep alive the memory of Lue Gim Gong, often called DeLand’s own “citrus wizard.”

The Historical Society and the city have kept Lue’s legacy alive through books, CDs, murals, presentations and monuments. A bronze bust of him sits in the gazebo of the Historical Society’s DeLand House Museum on West Michigan Avenue. A custom-designed marker identifies his burial site in the historic Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand, and one of Downtown DeLand’s murals features Lue holding his beloved pet rooster.

Hsu visited the bronze bust of Lue, sculpted by Ralph Batten of DeLand. The experience in DeLand inspired Hsu to create the Lue Gim Gong Award to be presented annually by the Chinese-American organization to honor those who show remarkable support for the endeavors and contributions of Chinese-Americans.

The award may be viewed at the Conrad Educational Center, 137 W. Michigan Ave., behind the DeLand House Museum.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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