Jimmy Locke
If only Gary Locke’s dad, Jimmy, had gotten to see just how high his son is going. Jimmy would laugh till his belly burst if he found out that his son would be the U.S. Ambassador to China. He would be so proud and thrilled.
Sadly, Jimmy passed away in January at the age of 93.
Choking back tears, Locke’s sister Marian Monwai said, “[Dad] would have loved to go back [to China].” Jimmy visited China twice with the whole family when Locke was governor of Washington state and again a few years ago.
If he were here, I imagine that Jimmy would be on the phone all day. His friends and relatives in Toishan, China, would call and congratulate him. He would celebrate by cooking a nice meal for the family, and perhaps he would visit Chinatown for a hearty dinner with his other children and grandchildren. ♦