In the summer of 2004, I was fortunate to have been selected by the Korea Society for their Alumni Fellowship to Korea. The Alumni Fellowship required participants to conduct a teacher workshop with teachers in their district upon their return. One participant joked, “Oh Linda won’t have any trouble getting sponsorship for her workshop in Las Vegas, just call a casino.” An article appeared in the Las Vegas paper that Ted Lee (former EWC staff, member of the EWC Board of Governors, Seminar participant 2008, 2009, international alumni and media conferences 2008, 2010), had donated the sign for the Sunrise Park. He was an owner of the local Eureka Casino so I went there and asked to see him. They told me he was in San Francisco and gave me his contact information. When I contacted him and told him that I was an East-West Center alumna (EWC Summer Institute 1991), he asked me how much I needed. I said $500. He said he would send it. His wife and partner Doris wrote me a note. “Good Luck with your seminar. Anything that promotes better understanding between countries and cultures is good. Sincerely, Doris and Ted.”  The money paid for a workshop at my school, the College of Southern Nevada.

I later nominated The Lees for an award at the College of Southern Nevada which they received and I accepted for them.

As an East-West Center Alumna teaching about Asia and the Pacific, I have continued to be involved with the Center serving on the EWCA Development Committee.  I donated $1000 towards Ted Lee’s Wall of Honor which describes his achievements.

On September 10, 2021, I attended his memorial service at the University of Nevada Las Vegas where he was remembered for his contributions to the Business School. I am pictured below with his son Gregg Lee. I was further inspired by Ted Lee as he had given a scholarship for the Center. I also recently gave a scholarship.

To learn more about the Wall of Honor or to make a contribution, click here.