Michael Bilirakis
Michael Bilirakis (born July 16, 1930) is an American politician and lawyer from Florida. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2007, representing Florida's 9th congressional district. Early life The son of Greek immigrants, Bilirakis was born in Tarpon Springs, Florida but spent his childhood in Clairton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Douglas Business College in McKeesport, Pennsylvania in 1949. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1959 where he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity. He also attended George Washington University in 1960. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1963. Bilirakis served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean War era and rose to the rank of staff sergeant. Political career Bilirakis made his first run for office in 1982, contesting the newly created 9th District. He defeated State Representative George Sheldon by 4,300 votes. He was reelected with 78 percent of the vote in 1984 and was reelected 10 more times, never facing serious opposition. He ran unopposed in 1988, 1994, 1998 and 2004.