HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JAMES HONG "JIM" SHEE

On 2026-06-04, Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ-4) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JAMES HONG "JIM" SHEE" in the House.

HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JAMES HONG "JIM" SHEE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E526-E527] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JAMES HONG ``JIM'' SHEE ______ HON. GREG STANTON of arizona in the house of representatives Thursday, June 4, 2026 Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of James Hong ``Jim'' Shee of Phoenix, who passed away on May 13, 2026, at the age of 86. Jim was a civil rights leader, a community builder, and a deeply respected Arizona figure whose life helped tell the story of who we are as a state. Jim was born in Tucson to Lem Hong Shee and Maria Villegas Shee. He grew up in South Tucson as the son of a Chinese father and Mexican American mother, speaking both English and Spanish and moving between communities that did not always make room for him. As a biracial child, he regularly experienced discrimination, and he faced further hardship after losing an eye in a childhood accident. Jim did not let those setbacks stop him. Jim helped people treated as outsiders. He graduated from Pueblo High School, served in the National Guard, attended the University of Arizona, and built a career in business. Jim and his brother John co-owned El Sol Market, where Jim became known for a Chinese chorizo recipe that continues today. Later, he worked in the grocery industry in Phoenix, traveled the world as an import buyer, and entered real estate. Across every chapter, Jim was a kind and caring community leader who stayed rooted in the people and neighborhoods that shaped him. That same commitment guided his civic work. Jim worked closely with Madeline Ong Sakata to carry forward the legacy of her father, Arizona State Senator Wing F. Ong--the first Asian American elected to a state legislature in U.S. history. Madeline and Jim created [[Page E527]] the Arizona Asian American Association and the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce to strengthen civic engagement and cultural opportunities for Asian American Arizonans. Jim also understood that the Asian American and Latino communities of Arizona are neighbors, friends, and community members who can work together to build greater civic power. He helped establish the Phoenix Asian-Hispanic Alliance to provide a space for community members to meet and organize. On his seventieth birthday in 2010, Jim was pulled over by a Phoenix police officer. After running his information, the officer told him he was free to go. When Jim asked why he had been stopped, the officer eventually acknowledged that Jim looked suspicious. Jim was a United States citizen who had lived in Arizona his entire life. He did not let that moment pass. He joined the legal challenge to S.B. 1070 and publicly shared his story so others could understand what racial profiling looks like in practice. For years afterward, he carried his passport in his own country in case he had to prove again that he belonged here. Jim's service earned recognition from organizations across Arizona, including the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce, Chicanos Por La Causa, Asia, Pacific Community in Action, the City of Phoenix, American Legion Post 41, Pueblo High School, and the American Civil Liberties Union. The City of Phoenix proclaimed June 27 ``Jim Shee Day'' in recognition of his decades of service last year. Those honors show the trust Jim built across communities and the example he set by standing up with humility and conviction. Jim is survived by his wife, Marian; his daughter, Laurie; his daughter-in-law, Marcie; and his grandchildren, Kameron and Maya. He was preceded in death by his sons, Andrew Mark and Kevin James. I extend my deepest condolences to Marian, the Shee family, and everyone who knew and loved Jim. Mr. Speaker, Jim Shee broke down barriers and Arizona is better off because of him. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and legacy. ____________________