Robert Ken Woo Sr., 72: Father of the 200 millionth American citizen

A  framed magazine cover hangs  in the hallway of Robert and Sally Woo''s  house.  It shows the Woos and their newborn son, Robert "Bobby" Ken Woo Jr.

In 1967,  Life Magazine  sent a team of reporters to hospitals across the country to chronicle who would be born Crawford W. Long Memorial Hospital was one of the locations.

Baby Bobby became that  200 millionth American at 11:03 a.m. on Nov. 20.  His  father couldn't have been more pleased.

"He was proud of making that history," said a daughter, Dr. Cindy Woo of Palto Alto, Calif., "and he was proud to be a part of Atlanta."

On Dec. 31, 1967, the now-defunct AJC magazine did a story on the the Woos.  It's cover is the one on display in their  house.

The writer described the couple as a typical Atlanta couple, educated, trying to make it in the city. One excerpt states:

"The Woos have a one-bedroom apartment overlooking the swimming pool in a big apartment complex on Glenwood Road in DeKalb County. . . . She is 24 and her husband is 30, and they have a blue Mustang."

On Sunday, Robert Ken Woo Sr., of  Tucker died of cardiac arrest at Northeast Georgia Medical Center  in Gainesville. He was 72. A memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Emory University Cannon Chapel.

Mr. Woo was born in Augusta, Ga., the oldest of two children to Marion and Gambo Woo.graduated from Richmond Academy, then enrolled at Georgia Tech.

In 1959, he graduated from Tech with a bachelor's degree in ceramics engineering. He then spent two years in the U.S. Army. Three years later,  he earned an accounting degree the University of Georgia.

When it came to sports,  however, Mr. Woo was unequivocal, said his wife of 44 years. Tech ruled.

"Definitely," said Mrs. Woo, who as a teen moved to Augusta from Hong Kong.  "He was definitely a Tech fan."

In 1972, the Woos purchased a house on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs and turned it into office space.  He worked as a certified public accountant and certified financial planner. His wife, also a Tech grad, ran Oriental Art, a business that specialized in Asian furniture and art.

Mr. Woo retired in early 2000.  Leisure time was spent watching  sports, notably the Braves and Tech events. He enjoyed playing poker.

His son, the 200 millionth American, became the first Asian and Pacific-American partner at the King & Spalding law firm. Today, he's a 41-year-old married father of three, trying to emulate the senior Woo.

"When I think of dad, I always think of him teaching me things -- all of us --  how to fish, throw a baseball, how to make the big decisions in life,"  his son said.

"He was a very practical and common-sense kind of guy."

Additional survivors include his mother, Marion Woo and a sister, Dorothy Loo, both of Augusta; another daughter, Angie Woo of Duluth; another son, Dr. David Woo of Gainesville; and eight grandchildren.