A rare look into Stephen Tang’s early modeling career

When he was eight years old, University City Science Center CEO Stephen Tang had a brief stint in the modeling world by way of a children’s book called “Your World: Let’s Visit an Oil Company.”

“It was a fun experience to model for a picture book,” Tang recalls. “It featured a multi-ethnic group of kids, which was pretty progressive for Texas in 1968.”

In addition to the glitz, glamour and prestige that comes with a childhood modeling career, Tang nabbed the princely sum of $15, plus the hard hat used during the photo shoot.

“Fortunately, my parents knew that my modeling career would be short-lived and encouraged me to study science, engineering and business, instead,” said Tang in an email. “I think about that hard hat, and the photo shoot, every time I put on a hard hat for a groundbreaking ceremony or to tour a construction site.”