Eternal Grand Master H. U. Lee Timeline
- 1936- Haeng Ung Lee was born in Manchuria, China
- 1953- Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee began his martial arts training
- 1954- Lee earned his 1st Degree Black Belt
- 1956- Eternal Grand Master entered the Korean Army as a trainer for special troops
- 1959- Eternal Grand Master opened a Taekwondo school in Osan Air Base
- 1962- Lee traveled to the United States and established himself as a Taekwondo instructor
- 1969- Eternal Grand Master Lee founded the American Taekwondo Association
- 1973- Lee became a U.S. citizen
- 1978- The first ATA School Operations manual was introduced
- 1978- ATA hosted the first Grand Nationals at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock
- 1983- Eternal Grand Master introduced the first Songahm form atop Songahm Mountain in Little Rock, Ark.
- 1988- Eternal Grand Master received the High Profile Award from Arkansas Business
- 1990- (Then) Master H.U. Lee tested for 9th Degree Black Belt before the members of Songahm and became the first Songahm Grand Master
- 1992- The H.U. Lee Scholarship Foundation was created to provide college scholarships to deserving Songahm students
- 1994- The Little Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (LRCVB) presents Grand Master with the Kaleidoscope Award for civic activities
- 1996- Eternal Grand Master received the Crystal Award from the LRCVB
- 1996- During travels to Korea, Eternal Grand Master was presented the most prestigious Highest Profile Award of any Korean outside of the Korea by the President of the Republic of Korea
- 1997- Eternal Grand Master was the recipient of the Korean Broadcasting Systems’ Cultural Promotion Award (valued around $100,000)
- 1997- Eternal Grand Master was named to the Arkansas Athletic Commission
- 1999- Eternal Grand Master escorted a group of instructors into communist North Korea to promote peace between the two Koreas
- 2000- After a valiant battle with cancer, Eternal Grand Master passed away on Oct. 5
- 2001- Soon Ho Lee completes the nine steps to become Songahm’s second Grand Master
- 2004- XMA Founder, Mr. Mike Chat tests into the ATA as 4th Degree Black Belt. ATA Xtreme program is launched.
- 2007- ATA and its affiliates announce one million lives have been changed through Songahm
- 2007- Construction began on the H.U. Lee International Gate and Garden
- 2008- ATA introduces its Kidz’n Power Program to educate children and parents on stranger safety and abduction prevention
- 2010- ATA joins forces with Olweus to educate instructors and members on bullying prevention.
- 2011- Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee is (posthumously) inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame
- 2011- Grand Master In Ho Lee tests to become the third Songahm 9th Degree Black Belt
- 2011- ATA partners with Autism Speaks
- 2012- ATA Launches Agent G, The ATA Defender, Bullying Prevention DVD Program.
- 2012- The H.U. Lee Foundation presents $120,500 in scholarships to outstanding students
- 2013- Agent G, the ATA Defender, Bullying Prevention DVD Program is award top honors for Instruction and Safety by the Telly Awards.
