Remembering Dr. Tom Yatabe, the ‘Granddaddy of JACL’

Vol. 85, No. 22, November 25, 1977. 8 pages. View this issue

The death of Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe, known as the “Granddaddy of JACL,” was the subject of this eight-page issue. He died Nov. 14 at age 80, and more than 200 people attended his funeral. Mike Masaoka and Kumeo Yoshinari were among the JACL leaders who spoke. Bill Hosokawa’s feature traced his life from the American Loyalty League of 1919 through the founding of the JACL, and an editorial honored his place in the Nisei movement.

Elsewhere, a Northern California-Western Nevada JACL survey found 95 percent of respondents favored seeking reparation payments, and the JACL National Reparation Committee ran Part Four of its series on the concept. Helen Kawagoe was nominated for Los Angeles County assessor. Raymond S. Uno previewed the 1978 convention in Salt Lake City, and John J. McCloy was honored for organizing the 442nd Infantry.

What’s in this issue

Obituaries

• Dr. Tom Yatabe, 80: ‘Granddaddy of JACL’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe, known as the ‘Granddaddy of JACL,’ died Nov. 14 in Evanston, Illinois, at age 80 after a month-long illness. More than 200 people attended his funeral, where JACL leaders praised his lifelong dedication to Japanese American civil rights.

Community

• Nisei may be surprise pick for assessor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Carson City Clerk Helen Kawagoe was nominated by Supervisor Kenneth Hahn as a candidate for Los Angeles County assessor after Phillip Watson’s retirement. She would be the first Japanese American woman elected to public office on the U.S. mainland.
• Help for the homeless, by Pat Tashima, page 1. Foster parents Kay and Jerry Savard and Hanako and Gordon Bradley describe the rewards and difficulties of fostering children through the CATHY program. The article highlights the urgent need for more Asian foster families in Los Angeles County.
• Spark presented ‘golden gavel’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Spark Matsunaga received the Senate Pages’ Golden Gavel for serving 100 hours presiding over the Senate in one session. He called the honor a rare privilege.
• High school dropout teacher of year, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Gilbert Yee, a Chinese American fifth-grade teacher at Niles Elementary School, was named California’s top public school teacher by Superintendent Wilson Riles. He returned to school at 33 after being discouraged from teaching as a Chinese American.
• Henry Taketa honored in Sacramento, by P.C. Staff, page 2. More than 500 well-wishers gathered in Sacramento to honor Henry Taketa for over 40 years of service to the community. Resolutions and presentations from local organizations recognized his contributions.
• PSW regional office budget shows tight spending ways, by P.C. Staff, page 7. PSWDC regional director Glen Isomoto reported on the office budget, which stayed tightly controlled in 1977, and on programs including the Bakke case, Nisei pre-retirement planning, and a planned office move. He noted that visitor traffic dropped after the move to the third floor.
• Gardenans reject Helen Kawagoe, by Pat Tashima, page 7. Helen Kawagoe discusses her nomination for Los Angeles County assessor and says she is prepared to do the homework the job requires. She notes that many recent assessors have left office amid controversy over rising property taxes.
• PSWDC installs 10-member board, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Ten members were elected to the PSWDC executive board at the November 13 quarterly session in Los Angeles. Vice governor Paul Tsuneishi was elevated to the governorship.
• Mt. Olympus JACLer secretary earns title, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Amy F. Tomita, secretary to the president of Utah Technical College, earned certification as a Certified Professional Secretary. She has worked at the college since 1954 and is active in the Mount Olympus JACL chapter.
• Sunflower struggle to survive may cut use of insecticides, by P.C. Staff, page 8. University of Maryland researcher David Inouye found that a Rocky Mountain sunflower variety attracts ants with a sugary coating that protects it from picture-wing flies. He suggests the finding could reduce reliance on insecticides in agriculture.

National

• Bilingual ballot too costly, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Tulare County grand jury has urged state legislators to repeal the law requiring bilingual ballots because printing Spanish ballots raised election costs by 40%. Few voters requested the Spanish versions.
• NC-WNDC reparation survey shows 95% support, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Northern California-Western Nevada JACL survey found 95 percent of respondents favor seeking reparation payments for the 1942 Evacuation. Most favored payments to individuals, while 16 percent preferred a trust fund.
• Hayakawa, Matsunaga now firm for Panama Canal pacts, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Senators S.I. Hayakawa and Spark Matsunaga both now support ratification of the Panama Canal treaties. They argue that rejecting the treaties would push Panama and South American nations toward communism.

In-Depth

• The ‘Granddad of JACL’, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. This feature traces Dr. Thomas Yatabe’s life, from his founding of the American Loyalty League in 1919 and his role in forming the JACL in 1929 to his leadership through the Evacuation and postwar years. Tributes from JACL leaders recall his courage and enduring influence.

Commentary

• ‘Grand-daddy of JACL’, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This editorial honors Dr. Thomas Yatabe as a founder of the Nisei Movement and a steadfast champion of democracy and civic responsibility. It recounts his role in the American Loyalty League and the JACL and notes the organization’s approaching golden jubilee.
• Funds for Your Dreams, by Sachi Seko, page 4. In her Happy Valley column, Sachi Seko reflects on the Salt Lake JACL endowment fund and scholarship program started from 1958 convention profits. She expresses confidence that younger leaders like Mark and Pat Tsuyuki will preserve the fund’s vision.
• Breakthrough, by Raymond S. Uno, page 5. Raymond Uno, chairman of the 1978 JACL Convention, outlines planned breakthroughs for the July convention in Salt Lake City, including a Nisei retirement follow-up and a home-hosting plan for attendees. He invites members to share ideas and attend.
• Year-end Activities, by Chiz Satow, page 5. Chiz Satow recalls the JACL President’s Notebook given to incoming chapter presidents and quotes its guidance on assimilating new members. He reflects on the importance of active participation in chapter life.

Incarceration & Redress

• JACL National Reparation Committee: Comments on the Concept, Part Four, by JACL National Reparation Committee, page 4. This installment compares the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans with German reparations to Jewish victims, arguing both were unjust state actions. It contends that reparation is not a handout and that fear, not poverty, is the main reason Nisei hesitate to seek it.

Military & Veterans

• 442nd activator McCloy honored, by P.C. Staff, page 8. John J. McCloy received the Statesman-Humanist Award from the Aspen Institute for his role in organizing the all-Nisei 442nd Infantry during World War II. His visits to relocation camps convinced him of Nisei loyalty.

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