George Demeter

George Demeter (/dɪˈmiːtər/; 1896–1983) was a Greek American politician, professor of law, and parliamentarian. He was the author of Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure.^[3] The second Wednesday in April has been designated as George Demeter Day in Massachusetts.^[4]

George Demeter
Born	(1896-03-13)March 13, 1896 [1] Athens, Greece [1]
Died	1983 (aged 86–87)[2]
Occupation	Lawyer-Parliamentarian[1]
Alma mater	Harvard College 1918, Boston University Law School 1924 [1]

Political involvement

Demeter served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for two terms in 1932 and 1934 representing the Back Bay district.^[1][5][6] Demeter was the first Greek-American to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, building on the unsuccessful bid of Greek-American Nicholas G. Veniopoulos Nestor in 1922, who had gained the Republican nomination.^[5][6]

Greek–American involvement

Demeter became involved with the national Greek-American service organization AHEPA soon after it was founded on July 26, 1922. He was President of the Boston Lodge in 1923.^[7] After Supreme President H. N. Wells was voted out of office in March 1924, he assumed the role of Supreme President of AHEPA for three months.^[5][8][9]

While serving as Supreme President he contributed an editorial to the 1924 convention edition of "The Ahepa" entitled "Why Greek Organizations Fail!"^[10] Sometime during this period between 1920 and 1940, Demeter was president of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England.^[11] At the 27th Supreme Convention in 1949, AHEPA adopted Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure for its own use.^[12] Demeter continued to be active in AHEPA as a Past Supreme President. He participated in at least the 47th Supreme Convention in 1969.^[13]

Demeter was involved in the decision to include the Greek traditions of a laurel wreath and bronze medal in the Boston Marathon.^[2] He crowned the winner of each race and gave them a medal from Greece for each marathon from 1931 to 1947.^[2]

Academic work

Demeter was a professor of law at both Boston University and Suffolk University.^[14][15] He also instructed new members of the Massachusetts Legislature in legislative procedure.^[15]

Works

• Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, 2nd edition, 1949
• Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, 3rd revised edition, 1950, Bostonia Press.
• Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, Universal edition, 1953, Bostonia Press.
• Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, Universal Revised, 1961, Bostonia Press.
• Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, Blue Book edition, 1969, Little, Brown and Company.
• How to Master the Rules of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, 1948, Mosher Press.
• Main Motion, 3rd edition, 1943, Bostonia
• Master Parliamentarian, 1948, Bostonia
• Parliamentary Procedure for Boy's State, 1949, Bostonia
• Parliamentary Procedure for Girl's State, 4th edition, 1942, Bostonia
• Ahepa Manual: Official Guide of the Order of Ahepa, Containing Early History and Miscellaneous Fundamentals of the Order, 1926, Boston: Athens Print. Co.