[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 23, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E64-E65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ATHENA KROMIDAS

                                 ______


                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 23, 1996

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with constituents of 
the Fifth Congressional District and the members of the St. Nicholas 
Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, NY in celebrating the 10th 
anniversary of service of Mrs. Athena Kromidas, principal of the 
church's Greek Afternoon School.
  Mrs. Kromidas has long promoted the role of the Greek community 
educator who strives to instill into our youth an effective education 
based upon Hellenic traditions. Through her efforts, parents have taken 
an increased measure of involvement in their children's education. She 
has guided the Greek-American parents of the Greek Afternoon School to 
mold their children into citizens who will have a positive impact upon 
our entire community.
  A native of the island of Chios, Mrs. Kromidas has consistently 
worked to perpetuate the Hellenic roots of second and third generation 
Greek-American children. She strongly believes in having her pupils 
remember their roots as a way of establishing and supporting their 
faith. In 1994, Mrs. Kromidas, in cooperation with a local public high 
school, was successful in establishing a course in the modern Greek 
language.
  As a person who has toiled in the vineyards of selfless dedication to 
the community, Mrs. Kromidas has consistently struggled to infuse a 
strong and dynamic sense of family values and tradition into the entire 
school community. There already exists a growing list of both students 
and families who have credited this most outstanding educator with 
bringing stability and success to their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognizing Mrs. 
Athena Kromidas for an inspiring decade of dedication and devotion to 
the children and parents of our community.

[[Page E65]]


                       TRIBUTE TO GEORGE SEARIGHT

                                 ______


                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 23, 1996

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I would like the House of Representatives 
today to pay special tribute to a man whose legacy continues to affect 
a great many people in the 17th Congressional District. I consider 
myself lucky to have had the honor to have known George Searight. And 
although George passed away 18 months ago, the memory of him remains 
alive and vibrant with those who knew and loved him.
  George Searight was a Susquehanna Township Commissioner in Dauphin 
County, PA, in my 17th Congressional District. He also served on the 
township civil service commission for nearly 20 years. He held 
leadership roles in the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association and was 
a veteran of the U.S. Navy. George was both a leader and a role model 
in his community, and he will always be remembered as such.
  I can fairly state that substantially all of my experience with the 
pharmaceutical industry was derived from my continued association with 
George Searight. And all of my contacts with and about the industry 
will forever be colored by my association with George. I will always 
remember George as a good friend, someone who was always willing to 
dedicate himself and his time to a good cause, and a local leader who 
set an example for all to follow. He has been missed.
  At this time, I would like to submit into the Record ``A Tribute to 
George H. Searight,'' done on June 24, 1994, by Richard T. Englehart of 
the Capital Area Pharmaceutical Association.

                    A Tribute to George H. Searight

       Last evening we attended the viewing and this morning the 
     funeral of an old friend, George Searight. As testimony to 
     the number of people who knew and loved George, the funeral 
     home, the church and the route to the cemetery all required 
     extra police to direct the crowds. The fire and police 
     departments of his beloved Susquehanna Township honored him 
     with many of their vehicles and personnel in attendance.
       I am enclosing a copy of the obituary which appeared in the 
     Harrisburg paper. This is a wonderful description of George, 
     but it does not really tell the whole story. We know him 
     mostly for his involvement in activities of CAPA and PPA. But 
     even here, I am sure that many did not realize how totally 
     George was involved. In CAPA, his days go back many years. 
     His father was very active in the old DCL (Dauphin-
     Cumberland-Lebanon County Pharmaceutical Association), the 
     forerunner of CAPA. So George was indoctrinated in the local 
     association at a very early age.
       Not only has George been our treasurer longer than most of 
     us can remember, but he has also been responsible for 
     bringing in more new members than anyone else (George seemed 
     to know everyone connected with pharmacy or pharmaceutical 
     sales.). He knew when anyone was sick or in the hospital, so 
     he reported as the Flower and Sick committee. He was on the 
     Student Loan committee. He and Jerry Smith formed the best 
     social and convention committee (Frick and Frack) of any 
     local association in the state. He made all the arrangements 
     for all of our monthly meetings. He was a Vice-President of 
     PPA. He stopped in at the PPA office probably at least once a 
     week just to see how things were going and to see if anything 
     needed to be done. If ever there was a job to be done we 
     could count on George to volunteer for it.
       I believe that all of us who knew George Searight have been 
     very fortunate. Ike and I have know him for many years. I 
     knew him in Junior High School. We roomed together one year 
     at PCP&S. We double dated with George and June at college. He 
     was an usher in our wedding. He was a friend.
       He truly loved what he was doing for pharmacy, and he was 
     totally dedicated to the associations he represented.
       But most of all, George loved his family and friends. Our 
     hearts and our prayers go out to June and the sons he loved 
     so much.
       We shall miss him greatly.