Dr. Herbert K. Yee

Dr Herbert K. Yee is a fourth generation Sacramentan.  He is the great-grandson of Dr. Yee Fung Cheung, one of the first Chinese doctors arriving during the California

Gold Rush.  He was born in 1924 in Toishan, China.  At age six, he came through Angel Island with his mother and brother Calvin, being sponsored by his father, Dr. Henry Yee.  Herbert attended Stanford University and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at the University of the Pacific (UOP) School of Dentistry in 1948.  He practiced dentistry in Sacramento until he retired in 2002.  He has received international and national awards for his work in dentistry serving as President of the California Board of Dental Examiners and the International College of Dentists.  His activism for his profession has taken him all over the world to Europe and Asia.

Herbert also strongly believed in serving his community as well as the profession.   Over the last 50 years, he served as president of the Sacramento Chung Wah, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Association, National Yee Fung Toy Family Association, American Cancer Society, and Sacramento Pioneer Association.  For at least 15 years, he has sat on the boards of the California Golden State Museum and the California State Railroad Museum.  He has been a Regent of UOP for over 30 years.  He had been in the banking business for over 40 years serving as the Chairman of the Board of the Sacramento Valley Bank.  He also dabbled in real estate.

Herbert has always been one to overcome racial barriers.  In 1954, he was one of the first Chinese American to build a home in South Land Park.  In the 1960’s, he was the first Asian American to be admitted membership in to several prestigious social and business clubs.  In 1962, he was the first Asian American to be elected District Governor of the Lions Club and appointed to the California State Board of Dental Examiners by Governors Pat Brown and Ronald Reagan.

Never forgetting his roots, he has returned to China many times with his family.  He instilled in them a great respect for their heritage.  Forty years ago, he headed a group of “overseas Chinese” to build a school (K-12) in his village.  He has always managed to provide resources to improve the standard of living in Toishan and

the Sacramento community.

Herbert took the most pride in his family.  Married to Inez Fong for over 70 years, Herbert had four sons, nine grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren.  Many of them have followed his footsteps into the medical, dental, and professional life.

Herbert was enjoying his retirement, but still maintained his community activism. Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, UOP and Angel Island Hall of Fame Awards, the prestigious ICD Ottofy-Okumura Award, and the California Dental Association Humanitarian of the Year award for lifetime achievement recently.  He was an extraordinary trailblazer and an inspiration to all of us.