Tom McKay's 82nd Birthday Party - 2016

Jennifer Han, Master Han, and Tom McKay celebrating Tom McKay's 82nd birthday party. Master Han has engaged in the martial arts for or forty-two years. Born September 15th, 1948 in Kyodong, South Korea, he was the eldest of nine children. As a young man growing up in a place of intense conflict with North Korea, Master Han had to be prepared to serve his country at any given moment. Prior to being called to duty he studied and became proficient in the martial arts, especially under Grand Master Jae OK Myong . Not long thereafter, he was in the ROK Army as a KATSUA soldier. As such, he was called upon to teach American soldiers various martial arts. While imparting martial arts knowledge and skills to the American soldiers. Master Han developed a close camaraderie with many of his students and dreamed of coming to the United States of America for opportunity and citizenship in a democratic country. Master Han’s dream came to fruition in 1976. Not long after his arrival he first took his martial arts skills to Alabama. In 1978 he found a position in El Paso, Texas, and also was fortunate of the unexpected, meeting and marrying the charming and lovely Joyce Han in 1980. That union produced five children, Jennifer, Abraham, Israel, and the twins, Stephanie and Heather Han. And thus was the beginning of the El Paso Han Dynasty. http://www.convictedartistmagazine.com/mma-news/1128-master-bae-han-martial-arts-inductee.html

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: EPMH

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History