James A. Regas of the Assumption Church, Chicago, IL was invested as Archon Offikion in 1991. He previously received the St. Paul Medal for his service to the church from Archbishop Iakovos. He was a founding member and for 25 years the President of the United Hellenic American Congress, UHAC. Which was an umbrella organization for many Greek Ethnic and Philanthropic organizations.

At the request of the Mayor of the City of Chicago he undertook, on behalf of UHAC, the improvement of Greek Town as an Historical District commemorating the first Greek Immigrants that came to Chicago.

He then undertook the purchase of the future site for the Hellenic National Museum.

He also served as a Board Member of the Archdiocesan Council and for many years served as an Executive Board Member and Legal Counsel of “Leadership 100”. He and his wife together with twenty-two other couples accompanied Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Rome to pursue discussions toward unity.

Regas was the founding member and senior partner of the Law firm of Regas, Frezados & Dallas. He is also a past president of the Hellenic Bar Association. During his career he devoted a substantial part of time and effort to religious, civic and charitable activities. He received the City of Chicago’s highest award, the “Urbs in Horto Award” for his efforts to renovate and beautify the Greek Town area. He also received the City of Chicago’s Commissioner’s Award for his efforts to extend the University of Illinois Campus Plan. In 1978 He purchased the Illinois Central Railroad Hospital and converted it into a not-for-profit hospital to serve the needs of its predominantly minority Hyde Park population for which he received the Brotherhood Award from the Chicago Conference for Brotherhood. Nationally he became Chairman of the Western Policy Center, a Washington DC “think tank” which eventually merged with The Wilson International Center for Scholars. He was also President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Spiros Basil Vryonis Center for the study of Hellenism. For his civic and community services he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

In his home community of Oak Brook, IL, he served as President of his Community Association, President of the Police Pension Board, Commissioner of the Police and Fire Commission, Board Member and Officer of the Oak Brook Civic Association, Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Member of the Presidents Club.