[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2007]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING STATE SENATOR ADELINE GEO-KARIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MELISSA L. BEAN

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2008

  Ms. BEAN. Madam Speaker, upon the occasion of her passing, I rise 
today to celebrate the life and achievements of Illinois State Senator 
Adeline Geo-Karis, a true political pioneer who dedicated her life to 
serving the people of Illinois.
   She was a woman in leadership when there weren't any others. She 
broke through all the barriers, as the only woman in her graduating 
class at DePaul University Law School, as a lieutenant commander in the 
U.S. Naval Reserve, as the State's first female assistant State's 
attorney, and the first woman elected to the Illinois General Assembly 
from Lake County.
   Through more than three decades of service in the Illinois General 
Assembly, Senator Geo-Karis spearheaded successful efforts to cut crime 
and promote alternative energy use. She was a tireless advocate for 
senior citizens and a longtime champion of the disabled. She brought 
constituent service to new heights and set the bar for other elected 
officials in the State of Illinois.
   She served with distinction as the mayor of Zion and as an immigrant 
from Greece, she was an inspiring example of the American Dream.
   Madam Speaker, Senator Geo-Karis has served her district, State, and 
country with exemplary dedication and commitment. Her 34 years of 
outstanding public service ensure that her legacy will be remembered.

                          ____________________