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George Cretekos' 30-Year Career Celebrated at USGS Center in Florida
George Cretekos, longtime Assistant District Administrator for U.S. Congressman Bill Young (R-Florida), was honored by the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership in a gathering at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)'s Normile Conference Room on the evening of May 31, 2006. The gathering was a celebration of Cretekos' retirement after more than 30 years of service. It was 1971 when Cretekos joined the staff of Congressman Young, who represents the 10th Congressional District of Florida. Now serving his 18th term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Young remarked that after all this time working together, there was no way to replace George Cretekos.
The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership group, led by Don Shea, hosted the recognition and retirement ceremony and chose to hold the honorary event at the USGS Florida Integrated Science Center office in St. Petersburg, Fla. Many of the attendees had been instrumental in securing the site and the complex of buildings that house the USGS offices, working with the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership to create a scientific-research center as part of the downtown community. Thus, it was fitting that the USGS office was the site for the ceremony.
The event took place in the Normile Conference Room, with all arrangements handled by the Downtown Partnership. Numerous dignitaries were present to honor George Cretekos, including the previous president of the Downtown Partnership, Marty Normile, for whom the main USGS conference room is named; Congressman Bill Young; St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker; former St. Petersburg Mayor Dave Fischer; Pinellas County Commissioner Calvin Harris; several members of the St. Petersburg City Council; the Dean of the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science, Peter Betzer; and the chairman, chief executive officer, and editor of the St. Petersburg Times, Paul Tash.
During the ceremony, Cretekos was recognized by Pinellas County Commissioner Calvin Harris, USF Dean Peter Betzer, Congressman Bill Young, and USGS Associate Center Director Jack Kindinger. Bill Young presented Cretekos with an American flag that was certified to have flown over the Nation's Capitol. On behalf of the USGS, Kindinger recognized Cretekos' many contributions to the St. Petersburg USGS center by presenting him with a plaque featuring a piece of fossiliferous limestone carved into the shape of the State of Florida. After the formal ceremony, the crowd of more than 100 people enjoyed each other's company, sharing stories and conversation.
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in this issue:
Biologists Count Parasites to Assess Health of Marsh Researcher Studies Effects of African Dust on Human and Coral Health Water Temperature Restricts Distribution of Coho Salmon in Redwood Creek
Scientists and Educators Support "Watershed Watchers" Program George Crekos' 30-Year Career Celebrated Geography Students Speak Out at Science Symposium
National Wetlands Research Center Staff Win Awards for Publications
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U. S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
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