[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN G. YEONAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 14, 1998

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my personal 
thanks and give public recognition to Mr. Stephen Yeonas. Mr. Yeonas 
has spent the last 50 years dedicated to providing the consistently 
growing population in Northern Virginia with more than 10,000 quality 
homes that now are the cornerstone of our neighborhoods and 
communities. After his graduation from Catholic University of America's 
Columbus School of Law, Mr. Yeonas founded the Yeonas Company in 1946. 
As founder and president from 1946 to 1973, the Yeonas Company became 
the largest builder of new homes in the Washington Metropolitan Area 
for many years.
  With his professional success Mr. Yeonas has also been the recipient 
of a number of awards bestowed upon him by the industry he led for some 
many years. These include the ``Man of the Year Award'' by the Home 
Builders Association of Metropolitan Washington Area and his being 
named Virginia Realtor of the Year. But I proudly rise today to 
recognize Stephen Yeonas as truly one of the great philanthropists of 
Northern Virginia. Most recently Mr. Yeonas and his family have lent 
their financial support and home building expertise to the Ronald 
McDonald House of Northern Virginia.
  The Ronald McDonald House of Northern Virginia, located on the 
grounds of Fairfax Hospital, offers the families of critically ill 
children seeking treatment in the Washington area a safe and free place 
to stay during their time of need. In support of this noble charity, 
the Yeonas family has graciously combined the 50th anniversary 
celebration of the first home their family built with a benefit for the 
Ronald McDonald House. The Yeonas family of home builders have 
designed, built, and furnished a show home in McLean from October 17 to 
November 15. The Yeonas family has selected for the furnishings the 
finest items and products from the home collection of Virginia's Design 
Foundry which is run by prominent architect Walter Lynch, AIA.
  Every dollar earned from the entry fee to the home will be donated by 
the Yeonas family directly to the Ronald McDonald House. In addition, a 
portion of the proceeds from each piece of furniture sold and a 
percentage of the sale of the show home itself will be donated to the 
Ronald McDonald House so that they may provide even more families with 
the support they need.
  Over the past 50 years Stephen Yeonas has been building the 
communities that make Northern Virginia and indeed all of the 
Metropolitan Washington Area one of the most vibrant areas in the 
country. As Mr. Yeonas steps down after so many years of service he has 
left us an indelible legacy of innovation and selfless philanthropy 
that should serve as a model to us all and I know has been imparted 
upon his successors, the next generation of Yeonas home builders: Steve 
Yeonas, Jr., Stephanie Yeonas Ellis and her husband Richard Ellis. I 
would like to thank Stephen Yeonas for all he has contributed over the 
past half century. He has enriched the lives of countless thousands and 
offered hope to so many.

                          ____________________