Member Biography

Biography

George William Gekas (R15) Dauphin and Lebanon (Part) Counties 1977-1981

Early Life: 

George William Gekas, born April 14, 1930, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; son of William and Mary Touloumes Gekas; William Penn High School, 1948; Dickinson College, B.A., 1952; Dickinson School of Law, J.D., 1958; served, United States Army, 1953-1955; attorney; assistant district attorney, Dauphin County, 1960-1966; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1967-1974; unsuccessful campaign for reelection, 1974; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate 1977-1982; elected, Republican, United States Congress 1983-2003; appointed, manager, Congressional Impeachment proceedings of Judge Alcee Lamar Hastings, 1988; appointed, manager, Congressional Impeachment proceedings of President William Clinton, 1998; unsuccessful campaign for reelection to Congress, 2002; married, Evangeline “Vangie” Charas-Gekas; died, December 16, 2021 (aged 91), Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; interment, full military honors, Paxtang Cemetery, Paxtang, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

Served, United States Army, 1953-1955; attorney; assistant district attorney, Dauphin County 1960-1966. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Greek Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; member, fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Dauphin County Bar Association, Camp Curtin Historical Society, Christian Churches Council, Police Athletic League, Hershey Racket Club.

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1967-1974; unsuccessful campaign for reelection, 1974; upset by future Harrisburg mayor Steven Reed.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 15th district, Dauphin and Lebanon (Part) Counties, 1977- resigned, December 31, 1981; appointed, Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, 1979-1982; appointed, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Authority, 1981-1982; committee assignments, Aging and Youth, Judiciary (Chairman), Law and Justice (Vice Chairman), State Government, Urban Affairs and Housing.  

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, 98th, 99th, 100th, 101th, 102nd, 103rd, 104th, 105th, 106th, 107th, Congresses, 1983-2003; appointed, manager, Congressional Impeachment proceedings of Judge Alcee Lamar Hastings, 1988; appointed, manager, Congressional Impeachment proceedings of President William Jefferson Clinton, 1998; unsuccessful campaign for reelection to Congress, 2002; Chairman, Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Control and Claims; Chairman, House Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law; member, House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law; House Committee on Agriculture and Specialty Crop Subcommittee. 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us) 

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "G"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, Ackley, G. (Editor). (1980-1981). (Volume 105). Department of General Services. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 89. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 68. 

George Gekas Obituary (1930 - 2021) - Harrisburg, PA - Patriot-News (pennlive.com)

George W. Gekas (1930-2021) - Find a Grave Memorial