Background
William Jack Chow was born on July 3, 1909 in Fresno, California. Chow received his B.S.
from Saint Mary's College and J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of
the Law in 1935. As one of the country's first Chinese American lawyer, he represented
Chinese immigrants battling against federal immigration authorities. In 1949, Chow and Jack
Wong Sing formed the law office of Chow and Sing in collaboration with Chow's politically
well-connected older brother, Albert Chow. He was the first Chinese American deputy district
attorney for San Francisco, the first president of the San Francisco Civil Service
Commission, and chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority. He also served on the San
Francisco Parking Authority. Throughout his life, he was actively involved with numerous
organizations, including: Six Companies, Bay Area Asian American Bar Association, the
Chinatown Optimist Club, the Chinese Cemetery Association, the National Gee Tuck Benevolent
Association, the Chinese Sportsman Club, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and International
Institute and Chinese Cultural Foundation. In addition to his community and political
activities, Chow was president and Director of the Four Seas Restaurant and Director of Wing
Sing Chong Company, Importers of Food Products.
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