May 9, 2000

     AsianConnections pays tribute to WIllie Kee. Willie is a living treasure. He is a pioneer in TV broadcasting, one of America's top Emmy award-winning photojournalists.

     Willie helped pave the way for many of us in the media industry today. If you ever had the honor of working with Willie, as we have, you will know him as feisty, funny, loving and unbelievably talented.

     Who ever thought that Asians are supposed to be quiet and meek doesn't know Willie. He gives us the courage to step "outside the box and go for our dreams."

     Willie has just returned home from the hospital. All of us at AsianConnections, with all of our colleagues around the country and the globe wish you, dear Willie, a speedy recovery. Email Willie your Get Well wishes!

From your pals,

Suzanne Joe Kai, Co-Founder, AsianConnections.com, (formerly KRON-TV NBC SF)
Chris Chow, Founder, Asian American Media Center, SF, (formerly KPIX-TV CBS SF)
Linda Yee, Reporter KRON-TV NBC SF
Vic Lee, Reporter, KRON-TV NBC SF
Mario Machado, Founder ICVC and EMMI, (former anchor KNXT-TV CBS LA)
Rosy Chu, Dir. of Community Affairs, KTVU-TV FOX SF/Oakland
Sam Chu Lin, KTTV-TV FOX LA, (formerly CBS NEWS - NY)

     Willie Kee is one of the most recognized and respected photojournalists in the country. He began his career as a still photographer in 1963, making the transition to television in 1970. He was California Press Photographer of the Year in 1976 and Bay Area Press Photographer of the Year in 1979 and 1981.

     Willie's work over thirty-two years reflected wide-ranging talent, far beyond the traditional role of a news photographer. During his twenty-five years at Oakland's KTVU-TV station, he received two Emmy Awards for producing and one for writing, in addition to nine for photography. He was tapped to co-host KTVU-TV's live coverage of San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade in 1988 and 1989, which was syndicated to five other cities. An accomplished and award-winning cook, Willie also wrote a food column for the San Leandro Times.

     In his remarkable career Kee has covered "nine national political convention, every president from Lyndon Johnson to Bill Clinton, the World Series of baseball, Super Bowl, all star games, and everything in between. It was a kick ass career."
 

Christopher Chow
Casting Our Voices: Chinese American Broadcast Pioneeers   read