1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring Snowdon Herr for his outstanding service to his community and state.
1.3WHEREAS, Snowdon Herr was born June 8, 1964, on the outskirts of Phonesavanh, Xieng Khouang,
1.4Laos, the eldest child of father Kao Herr and mother Kaying Vang; and
1.5WHEREAS, Snowdon became an orphan in 1966 after his father was killed at the Plain of Jars during
1.6the Secret War in Laos. His mother remarried, and left him and his brother to be raised by his uncle, Toulee
1.7Herr, and grandparents, Chia Nai Her and True Yang. Malaria claimed all of Uncle Toulee's six children
1.8and his brother Chee, leaving Snowdon as the only surviving foster son to his uncle; and
1.9WHEREAS, Snowdon went to school in Long Tieng from 1971 to 1974. After Laos fell to Communist
1.10control, the Hmong were hunted down. From 1975 to 1978 Snowdon fought as a child soldier to defend the
1.11jungle encampment where his family took refuge; and
1.12WHEREAS, on June 23, 1978, his family and other Hmong fled Laos, crossing the Mekong River
1.13to Thailand and suffering an enormous tragedy to finally reach the Nong Khai Refugee Camp; and
1.14WHEREAS,on September 1, 1979, Snowdon arrived in Clinton, Iowa, sponsored by Catholic Social
1.15Services, and lived with his uncle Chad Vua Her; and
1.16WHEREAS, in March of 1981, Snowdon moved to St. Paul and graduated from Highland Park
1.17Senior High School on June 8, 1983. He graduated from Augsburg University in 1987 with a B.S. degree
1.18in Political Science and Western Philosophy while working a dishwasher to pay his college tuition; and
1.19WHEREAS, after he graduated from college, Snowdon worked for a number of refugee assistance
1.20programs in Minnesota and has been an avid volunteer to the Hmong 18 Council and served Hawj United
1.21of Minnesota as secretary and vice president; and
1.22WHEREAS, Snowdon married Maiyia Vue, who together have 12 children and two grandchildren.
1.23He ran a cleaning supply business in Maplewood while earning an M.B.A. from Devry University; and
1.24WHEREAS, Snowdon started a translation company called Asian American Language Services, has
1.25become a successful entrepreneur and respected community leader, and was elected as the president of Hawj
1.26United of Minnesota for the 2019-2022 term; and
1.27WHEREAS, Snowdon is highly respected by his Hmong peers for his community engagement.
1.28Among other volunteering and fiduciary duties, Snowdon committed time to serve in the Ramsey County
1.29Equity Action Circle, St. Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden, St. Paul Parks and Recreation, Hmong
1.3018 Council including as its Anti-Asian Bias Task Force Committee Chairman, and community building
1.31events for Senator Foung Hawj; and
1.32NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it Snowdon
1.33Herr for his outstanding service to his community and state.
1.34BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an enrolled
1.35copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the Chair of the Senate
1.36Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Snowdon Herr.

Cal R. LudemanSecretary of the Senate

Jeremy R. MillerChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Foung HawjState Senator, District 67