法民先生，河北省望都縣人，生於民前四年正月十日，排行第二，譜名福永，後以法民名於當世。

先生家世耕讀，十七歲到河北省定縣親友家土布綿花莊當學徒，續轉任綢貨商店「鴻業號百貨店」為店員，後累積了經驗，於臨河縣創立「天然百貨商店」，並以「言不二價，保管來回」為號召，普獲好評，生意漸旺。

民國二十年日本侵華，先生冷靜觀察，欲以「工業報國」，幾經長考分析，認為電力是工業之母，乃於民國二十二年在天津成立「永光電線廠」，終於在民國二十三年拉出了中國人的第一條電線，遂有「中國電線之父」的美稱。

設廠不久遭逢「七七」事變，日軍佔領天津，於民國二十七年底遷廠北京，期間迭經波折及日軍阻援，困難重重，待勝利後因局勢動盪，幾經斟酌，遂於民國三十七年遷台設廠於板橋，仍延用「永光」字號，至民國三十九年改組成立「太平洋電線製造廠」。

先生以為「學識是開發資源必要的條件」，於是於民國五十八年捐資創立「龍華工業專科學校」，如今，工專已於民國七十八年改制為「龍華工商專科學校」，校友多達二萬餘人，真可謂桃李滿天下。

對於電線工業拓展，先生國內外雙管齊下，民國五十五年投資「麗華電線電纜公司」任董事長，民國五十八年主導與「華新電纜公司」合併更名為「華新麗華電線電纜公司」任常務董事。另早在民國五十五年即於新加坡成立「新馬電纜公司」，民國六十年在泰國等組設立「中泰電線電纜公司」。

先生事業的多元化，民國六十年在泰國等組設立「中泰電線電纜公司」，民國六十年在泰國等組設立「中泰電線電纜公司」。及在台中設立「龍翔航空器材公司」，民國六十七年完成自行設計的三架螺旋槳飛機。「太平洋建設公司」於民國五十八年成立，先生於民國六十八年接任董事長，後於民國七十二年創立「太平洋雷射光電公司」，民國八十年改組更名為「太平洋光電公司」，另於七十二年在美創辦「茂矽電子公司」，並於七十五年在台成立分公司，民國七十九年總公司由美遷台。

先生於民國三十三年二月二日在上海與陳淑娟女士結婚，育有三子。長子孫道存，次子孫道濟，三子孫道亨，閤家融樂，哲嗣皆奮勉求進，各有成就，家聲丕振。太平洋關係企業集團在先生領導下名震中外，對我國經濟發展與國家建設貢獻良多。

先生體力素健，自號「頑石老人」，雖克躋高壽，退而不休。除喜歡照相、收集古董字畫、古玉奇石外，常利用公餘勤練書法，且仍不時關注事業之發展。民國八十三年五月二十日抱病參加「創辦中國電線工業六十週年酒會」，註料會後病情惡化，藥石罔效，延至八十三年七月七日遽與世長辭，享壽八十有八。

 

Mr. Fa-Min was a native of Wangdu County, Hebei Province. He was born on the tenth day of the first lunar month in the fourth year before the Republic of China was established. He was the second child in his family. His genealogical name was Fu-Yong, but he later became known to the world as Fa-Min.

Mr. Fa-Min came from a family with a tradition of farming and scholarship. At the age of seventeen, he went to Ding County, Hebei Province, where he worked as an apprentice at a cotton and textile shop operated by relatives and friends. He later moved to the Hongye Department Store, where he worked as a shop assistant and gained valuable business experience.

He subsequently established the Tiantian Department Store in Linhe County. The store adopted the principles of “fixed prices without bargaining” and “guaranteed service and returns,” earning widespread praise from customers. His business gradually flourished.

In 1931, following Japan’s invasion of China, Mr. Fa-Min carefully observed the situation and became determined to “serve the nation through industry.” After extensive consideration and analysis, he concluded that electricity was the foundation of modern industry. In 1933, he established the Yongguang Electric Wire Factory in Tianjin. In 1934, the factory successfully produced the first electric wire manufactured by Chinese people, earning him the distinguished title of the “Father of China’s Wire Industry.”

Shortly after the factory was established, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident of July 7, 1937 broke out. The Japanese army occupied Tianjin, forcing Mr. Fa-Min to relocate his factory to Beijing toward the end of 1938. During this period, the company faced numerous difficulties, including wartime disruptions and restrictions imposed by the Japanese forces.

After the end of the war, amid continuing political and economic instability, Mr. Fa-Min carefully considered his options and eventually moved the factory to Banqiao, Taiwan, in 1948. He continued to operate under the name Yongguang, and in 1950 the company was reorganized and renamed the Pacific Electric Wire Manufacturing Factory.

Mr. Fa-Min firmly believed that “knowledge is an essential condition for the development of resources.” In 1969, he donated funds to establish the Lung Hwa Industrial Vocational School. The school was subsequently reorganized in 1989 as the Lung Hwa Institute of Technology and Commerce. Its alumni eventually numbered more than 20,000, making his educational contributions truly far-reaching.

In developing the wire industry, Mr. Fa-Min pursued expansion both domestically and internationally. In 1966, he invested in Li-Hwa Wire and Cable Company and served as its chairman. In 1969, he played a leading role in its merger with Hwa Hsin Cable Company, which was renamed Hwa Hsin Li-Hwa Wire and Cable Company, where he served as a standing director.

Earlier, in 1966, he had also established Sin-Ma Cable Company in Singapore. In 1971, he participated in establishing the China-Thailand Wire and Cable Company in Thailand and other locations.

Mr. Fa-Min further diversified his business interests. He established the Longxiang Aircraft Equipment Company in Taichung and, in 1978, completed the development of three propeller aircraft designed independently by the company.

The Pacific Construction Company was established in 1969, and Mr. Fa-Min became its chairman in 1979. In 1983, he founded the Pacific Laser Optoelectronics Company, which was reorganized and renamed Pacific Optoelectronics Company in 1991. He also established Mosel Electronics in the United States in 1983, opened a branch in Taiwan in 1986, and relocated the company’s headquarters from the United States to Taiwan in 1990.

Mr. Fa-Min married Ms. Chen Shu-Chuan in Shanghai on February 2, 1944. They had three sons: the eldest, Sun Tao-Tsun; the second, Sun Tao-Chi; and the third, Sun Tao-Heng. The family lived harmoniously, and all three sons worked diligently and achieved success in their respective fields, bringing honor to the family.

Under Mr. Fa-Min’s leadership, the Pacific Group of Companies became renowned both domestically and internationally. His contributions to Taiwan’s economic development and national construction were substantial.

Mr. Fa-Min enjoyed robust health throughout his life and called himself the “Old Man of Tenacious Stone.” Even after reaching an advanced age, he remained active and never truly retired. In addition to photography and collecting antiques, calligraphy, paintings, ancient jade, and unusual stones, he regularly practiced calligraphy in his spare time and continued to take an active interest in the development of his businesses.

On May 20, 1994, despite being ill, Mr. Fa-Min attended a banquet commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of China’s electric-wire industry. His condition deteriorated after the event, and despite medical treatment, he passed away on July 7, 1994, at the age of 88.

Note: The original photograph contains glare and some characters are difficult to distinguish. Therefore, a few names, company names, and dates in the English translation may require verification against the original plaque or an official biography before being used in a formal publication.