[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E111-E112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRESSIONAL TRIBUTE ON THE RETIREMENT OF COLUMNIST GEORGE WEEKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2006

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
journalistic legend and a valued Michigan native, columnist Mr. George 
Weeks. This long time newsman, acclaimed author and Michigan historian 
has epitomized the ability to provoke thought and challenge ideology 
through his interviews and written works.
  Born in 1932 in Traverse City, Michigan, a city I proudly represented 
for 8 of my 14 years in Congress, Mr. Weeks was exposed to the beauty 
of northern Michigan and the values of rural America. After graduating 
from Traverse City High School in 1950, Mr. Weeks attended and 
graduated from Michigan State University (MSU). He spent 18 months as 
an Army officer before beginning his lengthy career in journalism and 
politics.
  His career in news began in 1954 when he took a job as the Lansing 
staff correspondent for United Press International (UPI). In the 14 
years he spent with UPI, he also served as the Detroit Bureau radio and 
news editor, Lansing Bureau chief, diplomatic correspondent, and 
Washington foreign editor. While in Washington DC, Mr. Weeks became a 
member of the White House Correspondents Association, the State 
Department Correspondents Association and Overseas Writers. His 
coverage

[[Page E112]]

abroad took him to the former Soviet Union, Africa, Europe, Latin 
America and Asia.
  The time he spent covering politics in Michigan and beyond placed him 
among the prestigious Who's Who in America list and served as valuable 
knowledge as he transitioned to Press Secretary for Michigan Governor 
William G. Miliken. After beginning with Governor Miliken in 1969, Mr. 
Weeks went on to serve as a member of the Governor's special council 
and then as his chief of staff.
  The opportunity to work in the Miliken administration would serve as 
a foundation later for one of his greatest literary works. In the 
meantime, Mr. Weeks went on to be a Kennedy Fellow in 1981 attending 
Harvard University Institute of Politics. His research led him to 
conduct a study and subsequently write a published paper on outstanding 
governors of the 20th century.
  Mr. Weeks then found his way back to his home state of Michigan when 
he took a job as the political columnist for the Detroit News in 1983. 
His written works on topics ranging from public affairs to political 
developments earned him the Outstanding Alumni Award of MSU's College 
of Communications Arts.
  In his limited time, Mr. Weeks wrote several books on a range of 
topics close to his heart. These literary works included: Stewards of 
the State: The Governors of Michigan (1987; revised 1991), which won 
the Michigan Small Press ``Book of the Year Award'' and the achievement 
award from the Greater Michigan Foundation; Sleeping Bear: Its Lore, 
Legends and First People (1988; fifth printing in 2000); Sleeping Bear: 
Yesterday and Today (1990; expanded edition 2005) and MEM-KA-WEH: 
Dawning of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians 
(1992). He also co-authored The Miliken Years; A Pictorial Reflection 
(1988) and A Handbook of African Affairs (1964) and also contributed to 
Michigan: Visions of our Past (1987) and The Royal Cookbook (1969).
  As if writing a column as a foremost expert on politics in the state 
of Michigan or authoring a number of books as a foremost expert on the 
history of our fascinating state weren't enough, Mr. Weeks also 
invested time in organizations committed to causes he cherishes. Mr. 
Weeks has served on the Board of Directors for the Clarke Historical 
Library at Central Michigan University, the Sleeping Bear Dunes 
National Lakeshore Advisory Council, and on the planning committee for 
the annual observance of Michigan Week. Michigan Week, started by his 
father Don Weeks, is an event aimed at promoting pride throughout the 
state.
  Mr. Speaker, George Weeks and his wife Mollie, have also raised two 
wonderful children, Julie and Don, along their exciting and unique 
journey thus far in life. Now residing in Glen Arbor, Michigan, I 
understand that he plans to continue his writing by imparting his 
wisdom and knowledge through columns in small hometown papers in 
northern Michigan. It also seems fitting that he plans to do what 
George does best by turning his endless quest for knowledge on issues 
he's passionate about into written works that serve as learning tools 
for others.
  Today, I join a long list of individuals, including the Michigan 
Congressional Delegation, who have had the opportunity to work with, 
learn from or even know Mr. George Weeks in saying ``Thank You''. Many 
of us have been on the other end of the phone line with George waiting 
to see if his modest voice would invite a robust conversation about 
topics in which we shared alike thoughts or if he would ask a question 
that required careful and considerate thought in answering. Whether you 
have agreed with him or not on a topic he wrote, you respected his 
integrity and his ability to be fair in cracking though rhetoric to the 
truth of the matter.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join 
me in recognizing Mr. George Weeks for his commitment to the value of a 
profession that has often been equated to the fourth branch of 
government, for his dedication to fair and balanced reporting, for the 
integrity he brings to this sometimes volatile political world and for 
his deep, genuine appreciation for the great state of Michigan. Thank 
you, George!
  I certainly wish George Weeks and his wife Mollie the best in 
retirement and I look forward to our future conversations.

                          ____________________