George Gekas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Gekas
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 17th district |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Allen E. Ertel |
| Succeeded by | Tim Holden |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 15th district |
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| In office January 3, 1977 – December 31, 1982 |
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| Preceded by | William Lentz |
| Succeeded by | John Shumaker |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 103rd district |
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| In office January 7, 1969 – November 30, 1974 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Stephen R. Reed |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the Dauphin County district |
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| In office January 2, 1967 – November 30, 1968 |
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| Preceded by | ??? |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George William Gekas
April 14, 1930 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | December 16, 2021 (aged 91) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Dickinson College (BA) Pennsylvania State University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1953–1955 |
George William Gekas (born April 14, 1930 – died December 16, 2021) was an American politician from Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Republican Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district from 1983 to 2003.
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Early Life and Education
George Gekas was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His parents were Mary and William Gekas. He finished high school at William Penn High School in 1948.
He went to Dickinson College and earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in 1952. A B.A. is a common college degree. Later, he earned a Doctor of Law (J.D.) degree from Dickinson School of Law in 1958. A J.D. is a law degree that allows someone to become a lawyer.
Gekas also served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955.
Political Career
Before becoming a full-time politician, George Gekas worked as a lawyer. For two years, he had his own law practice. Then, from 1960 to 1966, he worked as an assistant district attorney for Dauphin County. A district attorney is a lawyer who represents the government in court cases.
Serving in Pennsylvania
In 1966, Gekas was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. This is part of Pennsylvania's state government, where laws are made for the state. He served in the House until 1974.
Later, from 1977 to 1982, Gekas served in the Pennsylvania State Senate. This is the other part of Pennsylvania's state government.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
In 1982, George Gekas was elected to the United States House of Representatives. This is part of the U.S. Congress, where laws are made for the entire country. He represented Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district. He was the first person of Greek descent from Pennsylvania to be elected to Congress.
Gekas was reelected nine more times, serving in Congress for 20 years. During his time in Congress, he was involved in important legal processes, including those related to President Bill Clinton.
2002 Election
After the year 2000, Pennsylvania's congressional districts were changed. This meant that some districts were combined or redrawn. George Gekas's district changed, and he ran for reelection in 2002 against Tim Holden, another politician. Holden won the election, and Gekas left Congress in 2003.
Later Life and Death
After leaving Congress, George Gekas returned to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He started a law practice there. He lived in Harrisburg until he passed away on December 16, 2021, at the age of 91.
