Wang Yao-ting & Xie Xiulan (王耀廷、謝秀緞)
Identity Snapshot
- English: Wang Yao-ting & Xie Xiulan
- Chinese: 王耀廷、謝秀緞
- Core roles: entrepreneur, educator
- Relationship: Married couple
- TAHS: Founding members (2013)
- Geography: Southern California (Arcadia)
Overview
Wang Yao-ting and Xie Xiulan are profiled together in the 2023 TAHS Publication, highlighting their joint community contributions. Wang is a founding member of the Taiwanese American Historical Society (TAHS) and served as vice president during the founding era. Both are active in the Taiwanese American community.
Wang Yao-ting was born in 1941 in Taichung during Japanese colonial rule. He grew up in Lukang, where his father Wang Cuxian served as a Japanese translator and his mother Chen Mi came from a wealthy landowning family. His older brother Wang Naixin was a student at Taichung First Middle School who was imprisoned by the Kuomintang government during the 228 Incident and died in prison after being denied proper medical care. This family tragedy led Wang to abandon plans for a joint university entrance exam and instead enter the safer path of teacher training college.
Career
Wang Yao-ting: Education and Teaching Career
- Born in 1941 in Japanese-ruled Taiwan, grew up in Lukang where his father served as a translator
- His older brother Wang Naixin was imprisoned during the 228 Incident and died after being denied medical care, a trauma that shaped the family’s future
- Due to the 228 Incident, his parents required him to abandon the joint college entrance exam and enter teacher training instead
- In 1960, he was admitted to Taiwan Central Normal School (now National Taiwan Normal University) — one of only 280 admitted from nearly 2,860 applicants
- After graduation at age 19, he was assigned to teach at Liexing Elementary School in Taichung, also serving as accountant and registrar
- Became principal of the school at age 21, serving for three years
- Transferred to Taipei Municipal Beigong Junior High School as a teacher and administrative staff
- After completing military service, he enrolled in the Department of Foreign Languages at Tamkang University, graduating in two years
- In 1975, he emigrated to the United States, initially working at Taiwan Air Force Base in Taipei before relocating to California
- In California, he worked at a Lockheed aircraft company and later at an AC Martin architectural design firm
Wang Yao-ting: Business and Community Leadership
- In 1975, he co-founded Brico King International with his wife Xie Xiulan, an import-export trading company
- From 1985 to 1995, he operated an import-export business, starting with minimal capital and personally traveling abroad to source products
- He secured large orders from companies like Sears and Macy’s, building a reputation for honest dealings with suppliers and customers
- After retiring from active business in 1995, he served as a director at World Hwa Shopping Bank (LA National Bank)
- He served as a board member of the Los Angeles Taiwan Center
- He was appointed as a consultant for the Southern California Longevity Association in 2022
- He was a member of the Lions Club and served as its president in 2021
Xie Xiulan: Education and Community Work
- Xie Xiulan was Wang Yao-ting’s classmate at Taiwan Central Normal School, studying in the music department
- She was the daughter of a wealthy family, with her father Xie Tingxian being a landowner
- After graduating, she was assigned to teach at the same school where Wang worked, though they did not meet initially
- She earned a master’s degree in music from California State University, Fullerton, and obtained California teaching credentials
- In the United States, she worked as an executive assistant at Taiwan Air Force Base
- She served as president of the Taiwan Air Force Base Alumni Association’s Southern California chapter for 15 years
- She was active in organizing music events, including a 2007 “Formosa Night” concert at San Gabriel Playhouse
- She served as president of the North American Taiwanese Women’s Association Southern California chapter in 2010
- She organized events including a “50 Years of Holding Hands” music concert and a cooking competition
- In 2021, she became president of the American Taiwan Lions Club, leading the organization through its 30th anniversary
Legacy
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Education
- 師範大學 — B.S.教育
- 淡江大學 — M.S.外國語言
Employment
- 竹林中學 — 訓導主任
- Brico King — President
Family Care and Filial Piety
- In the 1970s, Wang learned that his 82-year-old mother in Taiwan had lost all her teeth and could no longer eat properly
- He returned to Taiwan, brought his mother to the United States, and found a young dentist who fitted her with complete dentures
- His mother lived in the US for 20 years until her death at age 103, with Wang fulfilling her wish to be buried in Taiwan
- He regularly donated to organizations including the American Me Museum, police departments, Taiwan Center, and schools
- He and his wife raised their children with strong traditional values, emphasizing education and filial piety
Three Generations and Community Continuity
- Their son Wilson Wang is a math prodigy who won a national Outstanding Math Achievement Award in 2001
- Wilson works as an actuary at United Health Care
- Their grandson Mason (王勳銘) was born in 2020, bringing joy to the couple’s later years
- The couple celebrated 55 years of marriage in 2022
- They emphasize that caring for grandchildren is the true fulfillment of life in their golden years
Source Notes and Confidence
- Content priority A: 2023 TAHS Publication (profile, Part 2)
- Content priority A: 2017 TAHS Publication (profile, Part 1)
- Hub: |2023 TAHS Publication
- Hub: |2017 TAHS Publication
Sources
Related Pages
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