[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15247]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        IN HONOR OF MINOR GEORGE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 17, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a 
great servant of the people of Cleveland and leader of the Arab-
American community, former Parma councilman Minor George. His recent 
death, at the age of 78, is a sorrowful event for the entire Cleveland, 
Ohio community.
  Mr. George served as a Navy Lieutenant in World War II and was 
awarded the Bronze Star. After the war he was elected as the only 
Republican on the City Council of Parma and served three terms. In that 
office, his support was crucial to the success of a number of important 
Parma-area developments, including Parma Community General Hospital and 
Parma Town Hall. He was later to serve as Vice-Chairman of the Cuyahoga 
County Republican party.
  Mr. George founded the Cleveland American Middle East organization 
with his friend Richard Ganim. Today this organization is the Arab-
American community's leading political organization, uniting the voice 
of this important part of the wider Cleveland community. It is a 
suitable tribute to the vision of its founder, who became the National 
Arab-American President.
  Mr. George also worked tirelessly with entertainer Danny Thomas to 
raise money to open St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Without 
his efforts, this wonderful institution, which helps hundreds of sick 
children each year, would never have opened. We all owe him an enormous 
debt of gratitude.
  Through this exemplary record of public service, Mr. George rose to 
national prominence and his opinions were sought in meetings with 
Presidents Nixon, Ford and Bush as well as Palestinian leader Yasser 
Arafat. He always conducted himself with great dignity and was well 
respected by all sections of the Cleveland community. He will be sorely 
missed.
  I ask the House of Representatives to join me today in honoring the 
memory of this great community leader and role model.

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