[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THOMAS A. ATHENS

 Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, it is with sadness that I speak 
today about the death of a distinguished citizen of Illinois, Thomas A. 
Athens, who is survived by his wife, Irene, and their three children. 
Mr. Athens had a lifetime of outstanding achievement and service to 
God, this great nation, his home state of Illinois, and his fellow 
countrymen.
  A native of Chicago, Mr. Athens attended Northwestern University and 
then served in the United States Army during the Second World War. 
Outside of his military service, Mr. Athens strove constantly to be 
engaged in philanthropic activity. Whether it was the Greek Orthodox 
Church, the United Hellenic American Congress, UHAC, or the National 
Steel Distributors, Mr. Athens used his time and magnetic personality 
to build and support these organizations.
  As a member of the Board of Directors and finance chairman of UHAC 
since 1975, Mr. Athens' dynamism helped the group to stay true to the 
ideals and traditions of Hellenism, while reaching sound levels of 
financial stability. He also served as the National Treasurer of the 
Association of Steel Distributors, receiving its Steel Man of the year 
Award in 1969. In addition, Mr. Athens has served as the National 
Chairman of the Lake Forest College Parent's Fund and is an Honorary 
Trustee of Deree-Pierce College.
  Mr. Athens had a deep-seated passion for his Church. He was a 
founding member of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund, an 
endowment fund for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America and was 
instrumental in building its initial member base. He was also a founder 
of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, Illinois, 
and served on the parish council for many years. Mr. Athens has been 
the recipient of numerous awards, demonstrative of his passion for 
service to his Church and community. Among the many have been The Ellis 
Island Medal of Honor Award in 1999 and the Knighthood of Mikros 
Stravroforos of the Knights of the Orthodox Crossbearers of the All-
Holy Sepulchre recognition from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 1982. 
He has also received the Medal of St. Andrews in 1980 and the Medal of 
St. Paul in 1979 from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the office of 
``Archon Deputatos'' from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople 
in 1977.
  Mr. Athens, along with his brother Andrew, co-founded Metron Steel 
Corporation, one of the largest independent steel service centers, in 
1950. He served as the Executive Vice President until he retired in 
1985.
  The Greek-American community and the people of Illinois have lost 
someone who spent his life making a contribution to the values and 
organizations he loved. And many of us have lost a friend.

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