Madison – Yesterday, Representative Billings honored educator and local Hmong leader NaoHoua “Tony” Yang of La Crosse with the Assembly Hometown Hero Award. Tony was born in Laos during the Vietnam War and after enduring persecution and surviving with his family in the jungle for years, he made the journey to a refugee camp in Thailand before being granted asylum in the US. After arriving in Wisconsin, Tony learned English and graduated from Logan High School in La Crosse and later earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW La Crosse. Representative Billings released the following statement:
“I was honored to welcome Tony Yang to the Assembly Chamber in the State Capitol to present him with the Hometown Hero Award. His contributions to education, cultural preservation, and community service have provided an immeasurable service to the people of La Crosse and the 95th Assembly District, and I am proud to be able to celebrate and honor Tony’s service to the Coulee Region.”
“As we recognize the 50th anniversary of Hmong people in Wisconsin, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate the work and contributions of people like Tony. His invaluable efforts as a community leader and educator has made the Coulee Region better and touched the lives of countless students and I was honored to present Tony with the Hometown Hero Award.”
