BIO
Frank Chou was born in Taiwan in 1948. He reflects on his childhood fondly, describing his parents and three siblings as loving and warm, and shares pleasant memories of playing and growing up in the Taiwanese countryside. He attended the high school of National Taiwan Normal University and studied mechanical engineering at National Taiwan University. After graduating, Mr. Chou completed his mandatory military service as an aircraft maintenance officer with a rank of second lieutenant. When he was 22, Mr. Chou immigrated to the United States, earning a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering at West Virginia University. He describes how new friends and regular phone calls to his family back home made his first years in America an enjoyable transition. Subsequently, Mr. Chou completed a postdoctoral fellowship at his university before moving to Houston with his wife. Mr. Chou’s career includes time as a mechanical engineer at Dow Chemical, work at Shell Oil, and consulting experience until his retirement. He has served in various community organizations, including the Association of Chinese American Professionals, the Joint Chinese College Alumni Association, and the Chinese Community Center. His contributions include the building of a new senior center, the distribution of scholarships to high school and college students, and advocating for united civic engagement among Asian communities. In this interview, Mr. Chou discusses his life and education, work in the engineering industry, community involvement, and his own identity. Mr. Chou’s daughter, Helen Chou, joins in the latter portion of the interview as they share about their family history. They offer accounts of previous generations in China and Taiwan, as documented in abundant family records, in addition to the family’s life in Houston.