Le Nguyen
Cleveland International Hall of Fame
Class of 2026

Since 2010, the Cleveland International Hall of Fame (CIHF) has inducted people who have made significant and lasting contributions to our multicultural society. Cleveland is home to people representing about 120 different ethnic groups. The CIHF exists not only to honor those special people but also to inspire a new generation of leaders to follow in their footsteps.

Over 100 worthy candidates were nominated for the 2026 Class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. The selection committee was advised by previously inducted members of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Le Nguyen

Le was born in Can Tho, Vietnam, one of eight siblings. As a teenager, he witnessed the spread of war throughout the country. He joined the South Vietnamese Air Force, working in security, and rose to the rank of Sergeant. On April 28, 1975, just two days before the Fall of Saigon, Le survived the bombing at Tan Son Nhut Airport, an experience that would forever shape his resilience and sense of duty.

Soon after, Le, along with his brother and nephew, boarded a plane bound for the United States. By October of that year, he resettled in Muskegon, Michigan, beginning a new life in a new country. Determined to build a future, he enrolled at Indiana Vocational Technical College, earning an associate degree in Electronics and Technology in 1980.

Later that year Le moved to Cleveland, drawn by the promise of opportunity along the shores of Lake Erie. Within a year he was hired by Earl Williams Sr. to assist Vietnamese refugees resettling in the city. His work quickly earned the trust of city leadership, and under Mayor George Voinovich, Le became a key figure in community relations. He later served as the city's Asian Liaison under Mayor Michael White and continued his work through the administrations of Mayor Jane Campbell and Mayor Frank Jackson.

For 32 years with the City of Cleveland, Le was a steady presence and trusted mediator. When challenges arose within the Asian community, he was often the one called upon to listen, bridge differences, and develop practical solutions. His work in peacekeeping extended beyond city offices into neighborhoods, churches, and temples.

Le helped more than 125 families displaced by war resettle in Cleveland. He guided those families through housing applications, access to food assistance programs, and the complex process toward lawful permanent residency and United States citizenship. Alongside a devoted network of volunteers, he also helped bring cultural celebrations such as the Moon Festival and Lunar New Year to the city, strengthening cross cultural understanding and pride.

Believing deeply in his neighborhood, Le worked with Councilman Matt Zone to help establish the Vietnamese Community of Greater Cleveland along Detroit Avenue and West 65th Street. He served as president of the organization from 1990 to 2012, anchoring a community that continues to thrive today.

In 2012, after 32 years of public service, Le retired to care for his wife, Bonnie, following her diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. He devoted himself fully to her care until her passing later that year. Then in 2025, Le faced another personal battle when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Doctors now say he has won that fight, a testament to the same perseverance that carried him through war, displacement, and decades of service.

Le Nguyen's story is one of courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to others. Through his work, thousands found stability, culture found a home, and Cleveland became a more welcoming city. His legacy lives on not only in the community he helped build, but the lives he changed and the city he served with quiet strength and enduring purpose.

Le will be inducted by xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Cleveland International Hall of Fame website