093_HR0099 LRB093 10785 HSS 11939 r 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, The members of this Body are pleased to 3 recognize our distinguished colleague of the Senate, Adeline 4 Geo-Karis, on the occasion of her 85th birthday, which she 5 will celebrate on March 29, 2003; and 6 WHEREAS, Senator Geo-Karis has served the 31st District 7 since 1979; she is the first woman in Illinois history to 8 serve in the Senate leadership, having served as the 9 Assistant Senate Majority Leader from 1993 to 2003; she 10 previously served six years in the House of Representatives; 11 and 12 WHEREAS, Senator Geo-Karis has a legacy of 13 accomplishments; she is the first Lake County woman ever 14 elected to the Senate and House; she is the first lake County 15 woman to be appointed Assistant State's Attorney and elected 16 Justice of the Peace in Lake County; she is a former mayor of 17 Zion; and 18 WHEREAS, Senator Geo-Karis was named the Co-Chairman for 19 the Senate Executive Appointments Committee and is currently 20 one of two Republican Senators to serve as co-chairmen in the 21 93rd General Assembly; she also serves as a member of the 22 Financial Institutions committee; and 23 WHEREAS, Senator Geo-Karis is currently a precinct 24 committeewoman and parliamentarian for the Lake County 25 Republican Central Committee and has previously served as 26 co-chairman of the committee; she has had the distinction of 27 serving as a delegate to the 1984, 1988, 1996, and 2000 28 National Republican Conventions and as secretary to the 29 Illinois Delegation; she was an Alternate Delegate to the 30 1992 National Republican Convention; and 31 WHEREAS, Senator Geo-Karis has pioneered legislation on -2- LRB093 10785 HSS 11939 r 1 gasohol, solar energy, and other alternative energy 2 resources; she successfully sponsored and supported bills for 3 strong crime control and to benefit senior citizens, youth, 4 people with disabilities, and the working majority; she has 5 been cited for her sponsorship of the Nuclear Safety 6 Preparedness Act, the Alternative Eneregy Act, and many laws 7 to increase safety on Illinois lakes; she is the sponsor of 8 the "Guilty but Mentally Ill" law and she successfully 9 sponsored the repeal of the Illinois inheritance tax; and 10 WHEREAS, Senator Geo-Karis was born March 29, 1918 in 11 Tegeas, Greece; she is a graduate of Northwestern University; 12 she received her LL.B from DePaul University College of Law; 13 she is a retired Lieutenant Commander in the United States 14 Navy Reserve with top secret clearance; therefore, be it 15 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 16 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 17 we congratulate Senator Adeline Jay Geo-Karis on the occasion 18 of her 85th birthday and commend her for her diligent efforts 19 on behalf of the citizens of the 31st district and the State; 20 and be it further 21 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 22 presented to Senator Adeline Geo-Karis with our best wishes 23 and as a token of our respect and esteem.