Ted Wu was born in San Antonio in 1945 to second-generation Chinese American parents, restaurant owners who collaborated with the Gee family. He grew up there, attending the Texas Military School for high school and SMU in Dallas for college. After graduating, he was accepted to attend the Navy officer's candidate school in Newport, Rhode Island. Wu served in Commander Fleet Air Wing Ten during the Vietnam War, rotating through the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. He was then released and visited Hong Kong, where he temporarily became a condominium salesman for businessman Chin Ho (the inspiration for the character Chin Ho Kelly in Hawaii Five-O). Wu returned to Texas, went to law school in Houston, and worked for several organizations including the Harris County Attorney's Office and various private practices, as well as serving as an associate municipal court judge for the City of Houston. During his law career, he co-founded the Asian-American Bar Association, which aimed to connect Asian-American lawyers across the US. He is now retired and lives in Houston with his wife Linda and has two adult children, a daughter and a son.
Read more on Ted Wu's parents & their enormous contributions to the Chinese American community: Scout SA - Ted and Rose Wu and Tai Shan Restaurant
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