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COPYRIGHT 2001 The Dallas Morning News
Byline: Esther Wu
May 31--One of Steven Welp's favorite childhood stomping places was the five-and-dime at the Terrace Shopping Center in Richardson. As a 6-year-old in the 1970s, he checked out the latest trinkets at M.E. Moses while his mother shopped at the A&P next door.
Today, when Mr. Welp visits the center, he is amazed at the changes. Asian restaurants, bookstores, bakeries and Buddhist temples have altered the landscape of his childhood.
"And I think that's just great," said Mr. Welp, 50, who is white.
Mr. Welp is seeing the changes that accompany one of the region's fastest-growing populations. The Asian population in North Texas, now at nearly 200,000, has grown over the last 20 years at rates as fast -- sometimes faster -- than Hispanics, including well over 100 percent during the 1990s.
Asian doctors, lawyers, teachers, high-tech workers and business owners are part of the economic landscape. Asian restaurants are introducing authentic cuisine. And there are even two Asians playing on major league teams in Texas -- Dat Nguyen for the Dallas Cowboys and Wang Zhizhi for the Mavericks.
"Asian-Americans have contributed to all aspects of the community," said Dr. Charles Ku, a Chinese-American community leader who lives in Lewisville. "There are successful Asian-Americans in all fields. Many have...
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