Services set for former regent Fong

Thursday, March 21, 2002 | 8:38 a.m.

In November 1984, after losing a tight race for re-election to the Nevada Board of Regents post she had held for 10 years, Lilly Fong vowed that her dedication to higher education was far from over.

"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 said.

She fulfilled that promise as a philanthropist, sports booster and champion of academia.

Lilly Hing Fong, who as the first Asian-American to serve as a regent carefully monitored the spending of taxpayer funds and strove to improve the budgets of state universities, died 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. She was 76.

Services for the wife of longtime Las Vegas businessman, banker, property developer and civic leader Wing Fong will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Bunkers Mortuary. Visitation will begin an hour before the services.

Lilly Fong, a Las Vegas resident of 52 years, 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 her 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 First Presbyterian Church and the American Association of University Women, remembered Fong as a philanthropist, 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. They also were longtime fans of the UNLV football and basketball teams.

A political newcomer in 1974, Lilly Fong upset incumbent regent 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.

Fong's years as a regent were marked by her efforts 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.

She also established an endowment fund for the first Chinese language program at UNLV, helped convert Tonopah Hall dorm into offices and classrooms, saving it from destruction, and established the first Excellence in Student Teaching Awards in the UNLV College of Education.

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, married Wing Fong and became the Clark County School District's first Asian-American elementary school teacher. She taught at the old Fifth Street School and the West Charleston School.

A local elementary school is named for Lilly and Wing Fong.

Lilly Fong, who earned her master's in education at UNLV in 1980, was a 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 the 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.

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

The family said donations can be made in Lilly Fong's memory to the UNLV College of Education or the Lilly Fong Geoscience Scholarship.