Thursday, April 13, 2023
Commemorating George Demeter Day
Today, I had the honor of recognizing the outstanding contributions of George Demeter during our Senate session. His dedication to the protection of the rights of individuals by ensuring an orderly process by which all organizations and deliberative bodies can make decisions has been vital. Attending the session today were representatives of Mr. Demeter's family, the National Association of Parliamentarians, and Consulate General of Greece in Boston Symeon Tegos.
He was perhaps best known as the first Greek-American elected to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1932. He also authored Demeter’s Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, a manual with parliamentary rules and procedures to prepare anyone seeking to become a certified parliamentarian. Prior to getting elected, Demeter was heavily involved with the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, serving as President of the Boston Lodge.
According to Boston newspaper accounts, the inclusion of Greek traditions in the annual Boston Marathon such as crowning the winners with a laurel wreath and presenting them a bronze medal from Athens was started, in part, by Demeter.
With my friends from the Boston Athens Chapter 24 Order of Ahepa, National Association of Parliamentarians, and Consulate General of Greece in Boston Symeon Tegos.
