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HJR 705

Memorials, Death - Costas "Gus" Brinias -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Michele Carringer

Memorializes Costas "Gus" Brinias for his public service, entrepreneurship, and Greek-American community contributions in Knoxville.

Signed by Governor.
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Bill Summary · HJR 705

Summary: House Joint Resolution 705 (HJR 705)

Purpose and Intent

  • HJR 705 is a memorial joint resolution enacted to honor the memory of Costas "Gus" Brinias of Knoxville.
  • The measure recognizes Brinias as a dedicated public servant and influential local restaurateur who contributed to the Knoxville community and to Greek-American heritage through church and cultural involvement.

Key Provisions

  • Expresses condolences and remembrance for Costas "Gus" Brinias, highlighting his character, professional success, and community contributions.
  • Details Brinias’s life story, including his birth in Kesari, Korinthia, Greece (January 9, 1931), immigration to Montreal in the early 1950s, and eventual move to Knoxville in the early 1970s.
  • Highlights his entrepreneurial work as a restaurateur, notably Gus’s Restaurant (Gay Street, 1974–1988) and The Original Louis Drive-In Restaurant (Old Broadway, until retirement in 2005).
  • Notes Brinias’s involvement with Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, participation in the Greek Fest, and dedication to family and community.
  • Requests that an appropriate copy of the resolution be prepared for presentation, with language adjustments to omit certain formal references in the copy presented.

Background on Costas "Gus" Brinias

  • Immigrant story and professional trajectory illustrate a long-standing contribution to Knoxville’s cultural and economic life.
  • Managed and operated well-known local establishments, contributing to Knoxville’s dining landscape for several decades.
  • Active in the Greek Orthodox community and Greek Fest, underscoring his role in promoting cultural and religious community ties.

Legislative History and Status

  • Sponsor: Carringer (House).
  • Introduced: April 22, 2025.
  • House action: Adopted on April 22, 2025 (Ayes 95, Nays 0).
  • Senate actions: Concurred with House on April 29, 2025; enrolled and ready for signature by House Speaker (April 28–29, 2025).
  • Governor: Signed on May 7, 2025; bill status listed as signed by the Governor.

Impact and Beneficiaries

  • Nature of impact: Ceremonial, commemorative; no new statutory or regulatory changes, and no explicit fiscal appropriation.
  • Beneficiaries: Brinias’s family and Knoxville’s community, particularly Greek-American organizations and residents who remember his contributions to local life and culture.

Notes

  • As a memorial resolution, the primary purpose is to publicly acknowledge and celebrate the life and service of Costas "Gus" Brinias, rather than to alter laws or policy.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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