George Keverian
| George Keverian | |
|---|---|
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| Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
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In office January 1985 – January 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas William McGee |
| Succeeded by | Charles F. Flaherty Jr. |
| Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
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In office 1978–1983 |
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| Preceded by | John E. Murphy, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | W. Paul White |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 20th Middlesex District 39th Middlesex District |
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In office 1967–1991 |
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| Preceded by | William H. Finnegan |
| Succeeded by | Edward G. Connolly |
| City of Everett, Massachusetts Board of Aldermen |
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In office 1961–1967 |
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| City of Everett, Massachusetts President of the Common Council |
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In office 1960–1961 |
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| City of Everett, Massachusetts Common Council |
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In office 1954–1961 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | June 3, 1931 Everett, Massachusetts |
| Died | March 6, 2009 (aged 77) Everett, Massachusetts |
| Resting place | Glenwood Cemetery Everett, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater |
Harvard College Harvard Law School |
| Religion | Armenian Apostolic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | 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. In his role in the legislature, he was an advocate for greater openness in leadership, free speech and government reform.
George Keverian was born in Everett, Massachusetts, located in Middlesex County, near Boston. Keverian was the son of Armenian parents who immigrated to America from Turkey before 1915; his mother was a dressmaker and his father ran a shoe repair business.
Keverian attended Everett High School where he was a champion runner the valedictorian of the class of 1949. Keverian attended Tufts College for two years before transferring to Harvard College. Keverian graduated from Harvard in 1953.
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 suggested by his brother that could capture still images of each house in the ward. He sent an individualized flier to each house with a photo of their own home and a message about the attention he would offer the neighborhood. He served on the Common Council until 1961, serving as President of the Common Council from 1960 to 1961.
In 1966, Keverian was elected to represent the 20th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
From 1975 to 1978 Keverian was the House Majority Whip, the number three leadership position in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1978 Keverian was chosen to be the House Majority Leader, the number two leadership position in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, he won the position as Speaker of the House from fellow Democrat Thomas W. McGee in January 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.
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