Evergreen Founder Honored Posthumously

Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou honored Evergreen Group founder Dr. Chang Yung-Fa with a posthumous commendation in recognition of his contributions to international transportation and social welfare during the memorial service on Thursday. 

Taiwan's Education Minister and the Minister of Transportation and Communications also offered homage to Chang with the First-Class Professional Education Medal and First-Class Professional Transportation Medal.

Chang established Evergreen Marine Corporation in 1968. The global container carrier's service network facilitated exports from East Asia and especially for Taiwan, an island that relies on foreign trade for economic development. The shipping line's unprecedented success in launching its Asia - Europe service opened the door to the booming European market for exporters in Taiwan and many parts of Asia.

Chang formed EVA Air in 1989. The airline's innovative service has attracted international passengers and driven the growth of Taiwan's travel industry. Now a Star Alliance member, the airline has won numerous awards for service excellence and flight safety from aviation and travel organizations. Its consistent recognition has helped promote Taiwan's image in the global community. Evergreen Group has also diversified into aircraft maintenance, engine overhaul and manufacturing of aircraft parts, playing an important role in building Taiwan's burgeoning aviation supply chain.

With its business expansion, Evergreen Group has established overseas affiliates across a global network of more than 110 countries. These investments have driven growth and development for numerous related industries including container shipping, aviation and hotels, etc. Evergreen's steady growth over the past few decades has also enhanced Taiwan's economic exchanges with other countries and paved the way for bilateral relations.

Chang believed in giving back to society. In 1985, he founded the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation, an organization committed to providing emergency and medical aid, promoting education and culture and elevating moral standards. The Foundation formed the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, launched Morals Monthly, a free magazine distributed in more than 30 countries. It also operates the Evergreen Maritime Museum, an institution dedicated to preserving maritime heritage. 

The honors now being bestowed on Chang posthumously are added to the accolades that he received over the course of his career from many countries across the globe, including the U.S., Panama, Japan, Malaysia, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Evergreen Group is holding memorial services for Chang at the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation in Taipei on February 5. Thousands of mourners are coming from around the world to pay respects to Chang, including his close friends, government officials, representatives from business partners, shipping industry, aviation and travel trade in addition to Evergreen Group's local employees and delegates from its overseas affiliates. Many more attending are those who have benefitted from Chang's charitable work and generosity.

Biography

Chang was born on October 6, 1927, in Suao, while Taiwan was under Japanese rule. After graduating from Taipei Commercial High School at the age of 18, he went to work in the Taipei office of a Japanese shipping line. He continued his education by taking night classes at a vocational school in Taipei.

After World War II, he joined the seagoing staff of a local shipping company as third officer. His subsequent career was spent with various local companies, and he progressed through the ranks to captain.

In 1961, Chang and some friends jointly established a shipping company and, having helped this company to develop, he decided to branch out on his own, establishing Evergreen Marine Corporation on September 1, 1968, with just one secondhand 15,000 ton vessel, Central Trust.

Over the next four years, Chang built his fleet up to twelve, running them empty when necessary to convince his customers his services were regular and reliable. Within a year, he had expanded to the Middle East. Within three, he was dispatching Evergreen ships to the Caribbean.

In 1975, Chang realized that containerization was the way forward. He built four advanced S-type container ships and launched his U.S. East Coast service. Fifteen months later, he added the west coast of the United States to his network. Europe followed in 1979.

By 1984, he started his most ambitious service to date, two 80-day round-the-world services, one circling the globe in an easterly direction, the other westward. Departing every 10 days, the 20 G-type container ships he employed had a capacity of 2,728 containers each and could travel at a speed of 20.5 knots.

The Evergreen Group expanded beyond the shipping industry to encompass operations in heavy industrial development, air transport, hotels and resorts services.

Now, with over 27,000 employees and more than 220 offices worldwide, it comprises about 30 major corporations worldwide. 

On January 20, 2016, Chang died at the age of 88.