George Keverian
George Keverian | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1985 – January 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas W. McGee |
| Succeeded by | Charles Flaherty |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 39th Middlesex District | |
| In office 1967–1991 | |
| City of Everett, Massachusetts Board of Aldermen | |
| In office 1961–1967 | |
| City of Everett, Massachusetts President of the Common Council | |
| In office 1960–1961 | |
| City of Everett, Massachusetts Common Council | |
| In office 1954–1961 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 3, 1931 |
| Died | March 6, 2009 Everett, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Alma mater | Harvard, B.A., class of 1953, (American Political Science) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service | Army |
George Keverian (June 3, 1931 – March 6, 2009) was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1985 until 1991.[1][2] In his role in the legislature, he was an advocate for greater openness in leadership, free speech and government reform.
Keverian was born in Everett and attended Everett High School in Everett, Massachusetts, located in Middlesex County, near Boston. He later attended both Tufts College and Harvard College.[3]
He was elected to the City of Everett Common Council in 1954 at the age of 21, shortly after his graduation from Harvard. Running for three seats in a field of three dozen, Keverian used a high-speed motion picture camera that could capture still images of each house in his ward, with each house sent a photo of their own home on an individualized flier with a message about the attention he would offer the neighborhood.[4] He served on the Common Council until 1961, serving as President of the Common Council from 1960 to 1961.[1]
Serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, he won the position as Speaker of the House from fellow Democrat Thomas McGee in 1985, bringing reformers in the legislature to back his candidacy. Though he was able to bring greater openness, he had difficulties as a leader and in pushing through legislation. He left the post, and state politics, in 1991, after losing the Democratic party primary for Massachusetts State Treasurer.[3]
He returned to Everett, where he was appointed as the city's chief assessor in 1995. He lost the position in 2007, with Everett claiming that he had lost the post due to conflicts with the city's mayor; the mayor stated that the position had been eliminated.[3]
Weighing as much as 400 pounds by 2002, Keverian blamed his place in the public eye for his weight problems, telling a 2003 forum on obesity at the Harvard School of Public Health that "People can very, very cruel, even when they're not trying to be" and that "Having all that publicity and public acceptance worked against me". He was able to bring his weight down to 260 pounds following gastric bypass surgery in 2002.[3]
The George Keverian School in Everett, Massachusetts is named after him. Keverian had been scheduled to read a Dr. Seuss book to first-graders at the school on the day of his death.[1]
Keverian died at age 77 on March 6, 2009.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "Former House Speaker George Keverian dead". Associated Press. 2009-03-06.
- ^ Marquard, Bryan (2009-03-06). "George Keverian, former House speaker, found dead at home". Boston Globe.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e Staff. "Former Mass. Speaker Keverian Dies", WCVB-TV, March 6, 2009. Accessed March 6, 2009.
- ^ Lazar, Kay. "Keverian aiming for a healthy comeback", Boston Globe, February 7, 2008. Accessed March 8, 2009.
Bibliography
- Heslam, Jessica.: The Boston Herald, Longtime pol George Keverian found dead Former House speaker, fondly remembered by colleagues, friends, was 77, (March 7, 2009).
{{subst:#if:Keverian, George|}} [[Category:{{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:1931}}
|| UNKNOWN | MISSING = Year of birth missing {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:2009}}||LIVING=(living people)}}
| #default = 1931 births
}}]] {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:2009}}
|| LIVING = | MISSING = | UNKNOWN = | #default =
}}