Bridging 40-plus years of Oregon state politics, journalists young and old gathered at the State Capitol on Jan. 14 to celebrate one of their own.

Peter Wong, who began his Oregon journalism career in 1979 at the Roseburg News-Review and later gravitated to cover state politics in Salem, was honored for his more than four decades as the public’s watchful eye, with the announcement that the new press room at the Capitol is being named in his honor.

Wong, who filed an estimated 11,000 stories in his career, was given the recognition by Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-Eugene).

“I never thought that it would be named after me,” Wong said. “I was overwhelmed.”

Dozens of Wong’s former colleagues came to the dedication ceremony. Later, attendees gathered for a reception in downtown Salem that was generously sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists, KOIN-TV, The Oregonian, Asian American Journalists Association, The Oregon State Capitol Foundation, and the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation. Three Oregon governors came to pay their respects as well — Gov. Tina Kotek and former governors John Kitzhaber and Ted Kulongoski.

The new press room was included in the massive remodel of the Capitol which has taken over half a decade and is now nearly complete. Connor Radnovich, a former journalist and now communications director for Wagner, worked hours with the Oregon Capitol Foundation researching archived photos of former press corps members at work in the Capitol and framing them for display on the walls of the new press room.

Wong was clearly touched by the recognition and noted how he had covered more than 16 House speakers, 10 Senate presidents, and seven governors.

“Technology has changed so much over the years,” Wong said.  “I remember sending stories up to the newspaper by Greyhound.”

He noted that the principles of good journalism, however, have not changed, a point emphasized by former reporter and state Sen. Ginny Burdick.

“A good journalist must write with rigorous accuracy, integrity and a commitment to the truth and accountability,” Burdick said, and then added, “You can boil all the qualities down to just two words: Peter Wong.”

Former journalism colleagues Steve Law and Dana Haynes each reflected on Wong’s near-photographic memory for times and events. Law worked with Wong at the Salem Statesman-Journal while Haynes work alongside him later at the Portland Tribune.

Wong drew laughter from the crowd when he noted that most things are named for people who are deceased.

“Does this mean I am going to die now,” he chuckled.

Wong, who is a former president of the Asian American Journalists chapter of Portland, also took a moment to recognize the impediments Asian citizens faced for many years.

“There were laws both federal and state at one time that discriminated against Asian Americans. We have made a lot of progress since our early days, but we must remember we have a lot more to do,” Wong said.

Wong will work on a new project in his retirement. He is going to chronicle the history of women and people of color in the Oregon Legislature. Expect it to be thorough and accurate. Peter Wong doesn’t know any other way.