Thelma Buchholdt

Thelma Garcia Buchholdt (August 1, 1934 - November 5, 2007) was a Filipino American politician and author. She was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives for four consecutive terms, from 1974 through 1982. Her most famous book is "Filipinos in Alaska: 1788-1958".

Biography

Early life

Thelma Buchholdt was born Thelma Garcia on August 1, 1934 in Claveria, Cagayan, on the island of Luzon in the northern Philippines.

College

Buchholdt graduated from Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles and enrolled in graduate studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Thelma enrolled in the District of Columbia School of Law and graduated in 1991.

Political Career

Buchholdt became involved in politics as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee of Young Democrats. George McGovern named her the Alaska coordinator for his 1972 presidential campaign.

Thelma was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1974 as an Ad Hoc Democrat. She was the first Filipino American woman legislator in the United States of America. She was subsequently re-elected in 1976, 1978, and 1980.

Marriage and children

She met John Buchholdt while studying at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. They had four children:

*Titania Buchholdt - Indigenous Philippine instrumentalist.
*Chris Buchholdt
*Hans Buchholdt
*Dylan Buchholdt

Death and afterward

Bucholdt died of pancreatic cancer on November 5, 2007.

November 10, 2007, was proclaimed [http://www.gov.state.ak.us/archive-27938.html Thelma Buchholdt Day] by Alaska state Governor Sarah Palin.

Her life was one full of "firsts" including:
*Founding the [http://www.bgcalaska.org/index.php Boys and Girls Clubs of Alaska] (1966)
*Becoming the first woman President of the [http://filipinocommunityofanchoragealaskainc.org/ Filipino Community of Anchorage, Inc.] (1973)
*Becoming the first Asian American President of the [http://www.womenlegislators.org/ National Order of Women Legislators] (1980)