The Japanese colonial authorities named Ku's grandfather mayor because he was the richest man in town. Ku's father was the first local student to complete sixth grade at the elementary school in Meinung, and he spoke flawless Japanese, Minnan, and Hakka.
因為是首富，古德福的祖父被日本人指定為保正（村長），父親則是當年美濃國小第一名畢業的高材生，日語、福佬話和客家話都十分流利，祖父總將父親隨身帶著當翻譯。