[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 101 (Thursday, June 26, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S4149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING MICHAEL GEORGE

 Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, on June 24, my hometown of Detroit 
and the State of Michigan lost a great friend and public servant. 
Indeed, the loss of Michael George at the age of 81 was a tremendous 
loss for all those who admire hard work, dedication, generosity, and 
commitment to making the world a better place.
  The son of immigrants, Mike was best known to many through his 
successful business ventures. He built a small, family-owned dairy 
business into Melody Farms, one of the largest and most successful 
dairy producers and distributors in the country.
  Had that been his only endeavor, we would have called Mike's life 
well-lived. But Mike was more than a businessman. He became a leader in 
Detroit's Chaldean community. Chaldeans--Catholics originating mainly 
from Iraq--settled in large numbers in Detroit along with other 
immigrants from the Middle East. Mike was deeply proud of his Chaldean 
heritage. He helped found the Chaldean Iraqi Association of Michigan, 
and chaired the Chaldean Federation of America. He helped hundreds of 
Chaldean-owned businesses to grow. And as religious minorities came 
under increasing persecution in the Middle East, he became a leader in 
helping to settle endangered Iraqi Christians in the United States.
  Mike didn't just serve the Chaldean community. He was passionately 
committed to Detroit and its rebirth. He served on countless charitable 
foundation boards and supported a host of worthy causes.
  Mike George was a walking, talking personification of the American 
Dream. He was a friend to the city of Detroit. He was a friend to me. 
Barbara and I join Mike's legion of friends in Michigan and around the 
country extending our condolences to his wife Najat, and his family and 
friends.

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