Sabhasri, Sanga - 1959
From OSU Wiki
Dr. Sanga Sabhasri came from Thailand to earn a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Forestry Department. After graduation, he returned to Thailand to join the Faculty of Forestry at Kasetsart University in Bangkok. He rose to become associate dean of the faculty, then dean, and, in 1972, vice-rector for academic affairs. In 1973 he entered government service as secretary-general of the National Research Council. In 1981, he became permanent secretary of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Energy, and in 1992 he became head of Thailand's National Research Council. He was chancellor of Kasetsart University and chairman of the national Botanic Garden Organization.
While he was an OSU student, Dr. Sanga and a small group of Thai students established the Thai Student Association (TSA) at Oregon State University in 1959 in order to create unity amongst Thai students. Also, while a student at OSU, he met a woman who was to become his wife, a University of Oregon student named Vachira Satayayuk. They were married in 1962.
Dr. Sanga is survived by his wife, Vachira, and their son, Dr. Chayodom. He deceased at Chulalongkorn Hospital, on January 29th, 1999. A mourning ceremony was held in February, and Thailand's King Bhumipol presided at a state funeral in May.
