HR0984 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0984 LRB095 19530 GRL 45844 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois State Senator Adeline Geo-Karis of Zion, who passed away on February 10, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was born on March 29, 1918 in Tegeas, Greece; she came to the United States at the age of four; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis graduated from Austin High School in 1936 and from Herzl Junior College two years later; she went on to attend Northwestern University before receiving her L.L.B. from DePaul University; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis worked hard throughout her career to serve the public with dignity and integrity; she served the citizens of Lake County in the Illinois General Assembly for 34 years, where she gained a sterling reputation as an efficient and dedicated lawmaker; she also served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Naval Reserves, as an Assistant State's Attorney, as a Justice of the Peace, and as the Mayor of Zion; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was the first woman ever to be appointed to the position of Assistant State's Attorney in Lake County; she went on to become the first woman from Lake County to be elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was the first woman in Illinois history to serve in the Senate Leadership, serving as Assistant Senate Majority Leader from 1993 until 2003; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was the Minority Spokesman and Co-Chair for the Senate Executive Appointments Committee, one of only two Republican Senators to serve as co-chairperson of a committee in the 94th General Assembly; she also served as a member of the Financial Institutions Committee and as chairman of the Senate Republican Task Force on Veterans; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was a strong advocate for veterans; she served as Chairperson of the Senate Republican Task Force on Veterans, where she tirelessly worked to protect our men and women in the United States Armed Forces, an expression of her intense patriotism; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis worked for her constituents in a bipartisan manner to enact legislation for strong crime control, veterans rights, senior citizens and children protections, people with disabilities, and the working person; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis pioneered legislation on gasohol, solar energy, and other alternative energy resources; she was cited for her sponsorship of the Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act, the Alternative Energy Act, and on many laws which increased safety on Illinois lakes, among many others; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis successfully sponsored and supported many pieces of important crime-control legislation and was a proud sponsor of the "Guilty but Mentally Ill" law; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was intensely committed and supportive of the business communities, senior citizens, and agriculture of this State; her work undoubtedly resulted in better lives and more opportunities for many of her constituents and the people of Illinois at large; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was an avid supporter for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment during the 1970s and 1980s; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was elected as a delegate to the 1984, 1988, and 1996 National Republican Conventions and as secretary to the Illinois Delegation; she was also elected as an Alternate Delegate to the 1992 National Republican Convention; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was the head of her own law firm in Zion; she also served as a municipal attorney for Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Libertyville Township, and Long Grove School District, and was elected Justice of the Peace in Lake County in 1949; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was a member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Waukegan and served as the past president of the Parish Board of Trustees and Ladies Auxiliary; and

WHEREAS, In honor of Adeline Geo-Karis' dedication to the people of Illinois, the Illinois Beach State Park in Zion was renamed the Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park in 2006; she was also the recipient of countless honors and awards in recognition of her incredible work in government; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was very proud of her American citizenship, yet cherished her Greek heritage, working hard to assist and support the Greek community throughout her public career; and

WHEREAS, Adeline Geo-Karis was affectionately dubbed "Geo" by her friends and colleagues in the General Assembly; she was a beloved political icon known by the people of the State for her intelligence, compassion, and gracious demeanor; and

WHEREAS, The loss of Adeline Geo-Karis will be felt immensely by her former colleagues and constituents, who had been so greatly served by this legendary legislator; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Adeline Geo-Karis and honor the life and memory of this great legislator; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Adeline Geo-Karis as a symbol of our utmost sympathy.