Civic leader, former regent Fong dies at 76

Wednesday, March 20, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

Lilly Hing Fong, who as the first Asian-American to serve on the state Board of Regents strove to improve the image and budgets of state universities, died today. She was 76.

Fong, the wife of longtime Las Vegas businessman, banker, property developer and civic leader Wing Fong, died of an apparent heart attack in Las Vegas in the early morning hours, sources close to the family said.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 52 years will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Bunker Brothers Mortuary. Visitation will begin an hour before the services.

She was a University and Community College System of Nevada regent from 1974 to 1984. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas geoscience building was named in Lilly Fong's honor in 1985.

"She took a hands-on approach and was totally dedicated to improving the image of UNLV," said James "Bucky" Buchanan, a longtime local attorney who served on the Board of Regents for 10 years with Fong.

"She really understood finances and had a great perspective for picking presidents and other people for key jobs."

Pat McNutt, a friend from the Presbyterian Church and the American Association of University Women, remembered Fong as a philantropist, in both time and money.

"She was always willing to give of herself and her finances to help anyone, especially if it dealt with education or children," McNutt said.

The Fongs co-founded the UNLV Performing Arts Center in the late 1960s and raised funds to build the Central Plaza that connects the Judy Bayley Theatre to Artemus Ham Concert Hall.

A political newcomer in 1974, Lilly Fong upset Nevada Regent District B incumbent William Morris for a four-year term. She won re-election to a six-year term in 1978 and lost in 1984 to Carolyn Sparks.

Upon losing the tight race, Fong said she ran a clean campaign, adding "I am proud of my record and accomplishments and I will continue to serve our university and community college in any way I can."

Fong's years as a regent were marked by her struggles to identify funding for educational needs, a push to build the community college campus on West Charleston Boulevard and efforts to raise money for new college and university buildings as the Las Vegas area's population boomed.

Born Lilly Hing on June 17, 1925, in Superior, Ariz., Fong was a graduate of Arizona State University. She came to Las Vegas in 1950 and was an elementary school teacher. She later was a guest lecturer in the UNLV Continuing Education Program, specializing in Asian languages and religion.

Fong was Clark County Education Mother of the Year in 1970. In 1973 Sen. Howard Cannon appointed her to the U.S. Small Business Advisory Council. In 1980 she was named to the board of directors of Silver State Savings and Loan.

She was a life member of the West Charleston PTA and had served on the board of directors of the American Cancer Society, the Home Service Committee of the American Red Cross and others. She was president of the AAUW from 1971 to 1973.

In her spare time Fong practiced the art of Chinese calligraphy.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Kenneth, a daughter, Susan, and two grandchildren.