Michael Bilirakis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This biography of a living person does not cite any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (November 2006) Find sources: (Michael Bilirakis – news, books, scholar) |
|
Michael Bilirakis
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 4, 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | None |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Gus Bilirakis |
|
|
|
| Born | July 16, 1930 Tarpon Springs, Florida |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Evelyn Bilirakis |
| Residence | Tarpon Springs, Florida |
| Alma mater | University of Pittsburgh, University of Florida |
| Occupation | attorney, engineer, college professor, judge |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox |
Michael Bilirakis (born July 16, 1930), American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1983 until 2007, representing the 9th District of Florida.
Bilirakis was born in Tarpon Springs, Florida but spent his childhood in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and also attended George Washington University for a time. He earned a law degree from the University of Florida. Bilirakis served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War.[1]
Bilarikis has worked in various capacities. He worked as a steelworker while in college in Pittsburgh and later worked as an engineer. Bilarikis spent the majority of his professional career as an attorney and also taught law classes. He served as a municipal judge in both Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey, Florida.
He made his first run for office in 1982, contesting the newly created and then politically balanced 9th District. He narrowly defeated State Representative George Sheldon by 4,300 votes. However, he was reelected with 78 percent of the vote in 1984 and was reelected 10 more times, never facing serious opposition. He even ran unopposed in 1988, 1994, 1998 and 2004.
In 1999, Bilirakis wrote a letter in which he presented William Hammesfahr to the Norwegian Nobel Committee for consideration for the "Nobel Peace Prize in Medicine." (There is no such award.) Hammesfahr later said that he had been nominated for the Nobel Prize, claiming that this letter constituted a nomination, even though Bilirakis was not eligible to actually nominate him. (Dr. Hammesfahr claimed that Terri Schiavo was in a minimally conscious state and that she might recover.) Bilirakis' other contribution to medicine was HR 5213, which focused on inflammatory bowel disease.
Bilirakis retired in 2006. His son, Gus, a Florida state representative, defeated Democrat Phyllis Busansky in the 2006 congressional race for the elder Bilirakis's House seat. Bilirakis is of Greek ancestry and is married.
[edit] Notes
List of Former Staffers of Michael Bilirakis: 1. llen, Jeremy; 2. W Bill,Aaron 3. M Braxton, Lindsey 4. D Brown, Elizabeth 5. F Caccamo, M Patricia 6. Colen, Robert L 7. Eatman, Patricia L 8. Esposito, Anne E 9. Friel, Michael S 10. Grenelle, Rosalie T 11. Haggerty, Jeanne M 12. Hyder, Rebecca 13. Konkodiakos, Theresa A 14. Kumar, Robby 15. Lucas, Jeff 16. Martin, Katherine M 17. Melvin, Carrie E 18. Menorca, Douglas 19. Miaoulis, Shirley A 20. Ockunzzi, Erin 21. Owen, Sarah Anne 22. Owens, Angeline A 23. Paul, Thomas M 24. Pope, Barbara S 25. Robertson, James E 26. Stefadouros, Chrysoula 27. Stefanadis, Sonja B 28. Tilton, Steven G 29. Towles, Justin M 30. Trimis, Diane D 31. Troy, Jackie R 32. Weldon, Cameron T 33. White, Jerry L 34. Patty DeLoatch 35. Tuten, Todd 36. Mayer, Karen 37. Ardouny, Bryan
[edit] External links
- Michael Bilirakis at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
- "Bilirakis Reflects on Career" in St. Petersburg Times
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bill Nelson |
Representative of the 9th Congressional District of Florida 1983–2007 |
Succeeded by Gus Bilirakis |
