Gong, Walter A.

Walter A. Gong (1922-2000) was a professor of natural sciences at San José State University and Brigham Young University, and an educational theorist.

Walter Albert Gong was born in Merced, California, in 1922. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. He then went on to earn his bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University. During his time at the university he met Jean Char, who introduced him to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and whom he later married. Gong and his wife had three children, including Gerrit W. Gong who served as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Gong began his teaching career at Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California. He later became a professor at San José State University and taught there from 1959 to 1993. He co-authored a book on mechanics with William Shockley. In the late 1970s Gong was a professor at Brigham Young University and Ricks College, while also participating in teaching work with IBM and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Walter Gong died on May 16, 2000.

From the guide to the Walter A. Gong papers, 1964-1997, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)