[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2367-2368]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO DR. LAWRENCE T. GERATY, PRESIDENT OF LA SIERRA UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2004

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of 
Riverside, California are exceptional. Riverside has been fortunate to 
have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and 
unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a 
better place to live and work. Dr. Larry Geraty is one of these 
individuals. On Wednesday, February 25, 2004, he will be honored at a 
surprise dinner for ten years of academic and community excellence.
  Dr. Geraty grew up as a citizen of the world as part of a Seventh-day 
Adventist missionary

[[Page 2368]]

family who lived and worked in China, Burma, Hong Kong, and Lebanon. 
Dr. Geraty received a rich educational experience from attending 
schools in China, Hong Kong, Lebanon, England, Germany, France, Israel, 
California, Maryland, Michigan, and Massachusetts. These experiences 
set him on a lifelong course committed to the values of diversity and 
education.
  After completing his undergraduate degree at Pacific Union College, 
Dr. Geraty graduated from the Theological Seminary at Andrews 
University. He then served a short term as a pastor in Santa Ana, 
California. Later, Dr. Geraty joined the Andrews Theological Seminary 
faculty, he first went to Harvard University to study Hebrew Bible and 
biblical archaeology where he earned and received with distinction his 
Doctor of Philosophy degree.
  Returning to Andrews Theological Seminary as Professor of Archaeology 
and History of Antiquity, Dr. Geraty distinguished himself as a teacher 
and scholar for the next 13 years, teaching also in Jamaica, Jordan, 
Trinidad, Costa Rica, Europe, and Australia, and directed a series of 
major archaeological expeditions to the Middle East. During this time 
he was also the curator of the Horn Archaeological Museum and founding 
Director of the Institute of Archaeology at Andrews University.
  In his notable scholarly career, Dr. Geraty has received numerous 
honors, including a Fulbright Fellowship and served as advisor on 
archaeology to former Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan. Dr. Geraty also 
served as president of several scholarly societies; vice president of 
the American Center of Oriental Research in Amman, Jordan; lectured all 
over the world and contributed to numerous publications.
  Adding to his teaching focus, in 1985 Dr. Geraty became president of 
Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Massachusetts where he 
earned the reputation as a progressive academic administrator. Since 
July 1993 Dr. Geraty has served as President and professor of 
archeology at La Sierra University in Riverside, California, where he 
has also become active in the community, serving currently on the 
boards of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, United Way of the 
Inland Valleys, The Employers Group, Metro Riverside International 
Cabinet, Mayor's Higher Education/Business Council, Raincross Club, 
Monday Morning Group, and the Riverside Youth Action Executive Policy 
Board.
  In the year 2000, Dr. Geraty received the P. E. MacAllister Award for 
Excellence in Field Archeology from the American Schools of Oriental 
Research, and in 2001, the Charles Elliott Weniger Award for Excellence 
at Pacific Union College. On July 1, 2002, he began a three-year term 
as president of the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR), the 
premier organization for American archeologists working in the Middle 
East. From headquarters at Boston and Emory universities, he will 
supervise an annual scholarly convention, the publication of several 
scholarly books and journals, the accreditation of American 
archaeological projects in the Middle East and relate to research 
centers in Jerusalem, Amman, and Nicosia.
  Dr. Geraty and his wife, Gillian, have a daughter in Colorado, a son 
in Michigan, and between them five grandchildren. Truly, one of Dr. 
Geraty's most impressive accomplishments has been his ability to remain 
active as an archaeologist and churchman while continuing to lead and 
direct a university which combines the religious values of a faith 
community, the educational ideals of a liberal arts college, and the 
research opportunities of a comprehensive university.

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