Antonio Borja Won Pat

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Antonio Won Pat
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Guam's at-large district
In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1985
Preceded by	Himself (Washington Representative)
Succeeded by	Ben Blaz
Washington Representative of Guam
In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Himself (Delegate)
Speaker to the Guam Legislature
In office January 7, 1957 – January 3, 1965
Preceded by	Francisco Leon Guerrero
Succeeded by	Carlos Taitano
In office January 1, 1951 – January 3, 1955
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Francisco Leon Guerrero
Personal details
Born	(1908-12-10)December 10, 1908 Sumay, Guam, U.S. (now Sånta Rita-Sumai)
Died	May 1, 1987(1987-05-01) (aged 78) Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Popular (Before 1961) Democratic (1961–1987)
Spouse	Ana Salas Perez ​ (m. 1932)​
Children	8, including Judi

Antonio Borja Won Pat (December 10, 1908 – May 1, 1987) was a

from 1973 to 1985.

Early life

Won Pat was born in Sumay (now

China

, and his mother Maria Soriano Borja. He had two brothers and one sister, Francisco Won Pat, Vicente Won Pat and Eulalia Won Pat.

Political career

Won Pat completed his primary education at the Normal School in

US citizenship

and limited self-government, Guam's citizens were under complete US Navy rule. The pre-Organic Act Guam Congress sat only as an advisory body to the naval governor. It consisted of two houses – the House of Council and the House of Assembly. Its members were elected by the people of their districts.

Following

Guam Legislature

in 1951.

After World War II, the drive for American citizenship gained momentum from the

Washington D.C.

, the act gave the people of Guam American citizenship and the right to establish a civil government.

Guam Delegate (1965–1985)

Guam took another step toward self-representation under Won Pat in 1964 when I Mina’ Siete na Liheslaturan Guåhan/the 7th Guam Legislature created Guam's Washington Office as an elected position. Won Pat lobbied for the post and won it. While in office Won Pat spread awareness to the other state representatives about Guam and the political situation it was in, and increased federal support following his effective lobbying.

In his post in Washington, D.C., Won Pat continued the battle to gain representation in Congress and in the process gained many allies. These allies included

for two-year terms. Elected officials could now speak on the House floor and introduce new legislation though they could not vote on the floor. On 3 January 1973, Won Pat became the first resident of Guam to take the oath of office as a member of the 93rd Congress.

While Won Pat was Guam's delegate to the US Congress his efforts weren't limited to his constituents on Guam. During his tenure as delegate to the U.S. Congress, he was instrumental in helping what are now the Commonwealth of the

.

Shortly after

.

Personal life

Won Pat was married to Ana Salas Perez (1912–1995) in 1932 and they had eight children: Aveline Ploke, Marilyn (1934–1990), Jacqueline Won Pat, Ellen Chargualaf, Anthony Won Pat, Rosalind Fleet, Mark Won Pat, and Judith Won Pat, who is the former Speaker of the Legislature of Guam (2008–2017).^[1]

Retirement and death

After his 1984 electoral defeat, Won Pat retired to

.

Honors

In January 1989, the Guam International Air Terminal was officially named as Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in his honor.

See also

• List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress

References

External links

• United States Congress. "Antonio Borja Won Pat (id: W000686)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• NYTimes obituary
• Antonio Borja Won Pat at Find a Grave
• Congressman Antonio B. Won Pat Biography at Guampedia, Guam's Online Encyclopedia

Political offices
New office	Speaker to the Guam Legislature 1951–1955	Succeeded by Francisco Leon Guerrero
Preceded by Francisco Leon Guerrero	Speaker to the Guam Legislature 1957–1965	Succeeded by Carlos Taitano
U.S. House of Representatives
New constituency	Washington Representative of Guam 1965–1973	Succeeded by Himself as U.S. Delegate
Preceded by Himself as Washington Representative of Guam	Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Guam's at-large congressional district 1973–1985	Succeeded by Ben Blaz