Renata3: ←Created page with '{{Infobox person | name = Anthony A. Olis | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1898|8|25}} | birth_place = Chicago, United States | death_date = {{Death date and age|1958|6|3|1898|8|25}} | death_place = Chicago, United States | nationality = | other_names = Anton A. Olis<ref name=lawschool/> <br/> Antanas Olis<ref name=dapku/> | occupation = Attorney, activist...'
{{Infobox person
| name = Anthony A. Olis
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1898|8|25}}
| birth_place = [[Chicago]], United States
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1958|6|3|1898|8|25}}
| death_place = Chicago, United States
| nationality =
| other_names = Anton A. Olis<ref name=lawschool/> <br/> Antanas Olis<ref name=dapku/>
| occupation = Attorney, activist
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| awards =
| alma_mater = [[University of Chicago Law School]]
| father = {{ill|Antanas Olšauskas|lt|Antanas Olšauskas (1863)}}
}}
'''Anthony A. Olis''' (June 3, 1898 – August 25, 1958) was a [[Lithuanian American]] attorney and activist. He was the president of the [[Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago]] from 1950 to his death.
Born into a family of Lithuanian entrepreneur {{ill|Antanas Olšauskas|lt|Antanas Olšauskas (1863)}}, Olis studied law at the [[University of Chicago Law School]] and worked as an attorney. As a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he was elected to the board of the [[Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago]] in 1946. In 1956, ''Chicago American'' praised Olis' leadership as the sanitary district reduced costs and local taxes while expanding service area and serving more people. Olis campaigned for increased water diversion from [[Lake Michigan]] into the [[Illinois Waterway]], though such legislation was twice vetoed by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].
Olis was active in the Lithuania American cultural and political life. He was a member of the Lithuanian Birutė Choir and organized various Lithuanian events, particularly concerts of classical music. In 1934, Olis was conductor of the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]] which performed Lithuanian music at the [[Century of Progress]] (Chicago World's Fair). Politically, Olis was a member of the nationalist ({{lang|lt|tautininkai}}) camp. After the [[Soviet occupation of Lithuania (1940)|Soviet occupation of Lithuania]] in June 1940, he used his connections in the Republican Party to publicize the issue of the [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940)|Soviet occupation of the Baltic states]] and advocate for continued [[State continuity of the Baltic states|non-recognition of the occupation]]. Olis was chairman or vice-chairman of several Lithuanian American political organizations, including the {{ill|American Lithuanian Council|lt|Amerikos lietuvių taryba}}.
==Biography==
===Early life and education===
Olis was born on August 25, 1898 in [[Chicago]]. His father was {{ill|Antanas Olšauskas|lt|Antanas Olšauskas (1863)}} (also known by his Polonized last name Olszewski) Lithuanian immigrant who founded a bank and published the Lithuanian weekly ''[[Lietuva (Chicago)|Lietuva]]''.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=80}} Olis is the shortened and Americanized surname that replaced his birth name Olszewski.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=81}} His mother died when he was six years old.<ref name=dapku/> After graduating from the [[Calumet High School (Chicago)|Calumet High School]] in 1915, he served in the [[United States Navy]] during World War I.<ref name=bar/>
He then enrolled at the [[University of Chicago]] where he received [[Bachelor of Philosophy|bachelor in philosophy]] (Ph.B.) in 1919. He then studied at the [[University of Chicago Law School]] receiving [[Juris Doctor|doctor of law]] (JD) in 1921.<ref name=bar/> He was admitted to the [[Illinois State Bar Association]] the same year. He worked at the law firms of Goss and Rooney and William Beebe.<ref name=bar/> He later became a partner in Olis, Vasalle & Lapinskas.<ref name=directory/>
===Government service===
Olis joined the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and was active in the 7th ward.<ref name=calumet/> In 1941–1946, he was a Hearing Referee with the [[Illinois Department of Revenue]]. He unsuccessfully ran in the elections for judge in the [[Municipal Court of Chicago]] in 1942 and in 1944.<ref name=bar/>
In November 1946, he was elected to the board of the [[Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago]]<ref name=bar/> and became its president on December 5, 1950. He was reelected as president in 1952 and 1956 and served until his death.<ref name=mwrd/> His work at the sanitary district was well received. In 1952, he received endorsements from all four major Chicago newspapers – ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', ''[[Chicago American]]'', ''[[Chicago Daily News]]'', ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.<ref name=bar/> In 1956, ''Chicago American'' praised Olis for reducing costs and local taxes while expanding service area and serving more people.<ref name=bar/> During his tenure, the sanitary district was expanded twice: by {{convert|121|mi2}} in 1955 and by {{convert|412|mi2|abbr=on}} in 1956 for a total of {{convert|920|mi2|abbr=on}} encompassing 106 municipalities.<ref name=olis/> Olis campaigned for increased water diversion from [[Lake Michigan]] into the [[Illinois Waterway]], though such legislation was twice vetoed by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].<ref name=bar/> In 1956, the sanitary district moved to newly built headquarters that was initiated by Olis.<ref name=dapku/>
Despite severe illness, Olis continued to work at the sanitary district until he entered the [[Albert Merritt Billings Hospital]] where he died a week later on June 3, 1958.<ref name=calumet/>
===Lithuanian activist===
====Cultural activities====
Olis was particularly active among Lithuanian Americans. He spoke fluent Lithuanian even though he never visited the country.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|pp=80, 94}} From an early age, he showed affinity for music. In 1920, he joined the Lithuanian Birutė Choir (originally established by [[Mikas Petrauskas]]). When its choirmaster [[Stasys Šimkus]] returned to Lithuania, Olis was selected as his successor.<ref name=dapku/> In 1923, Birutė Choir and Olis performed operetta ''Bailus daktaras'' (Lithuanian translation and adaption of ''The Doctor of Alcantara'' by [[Julius Eichberg]]). The evening generated a profit of US$2,000 ({{Inflation|US|2000|1923|fmt=eq}}).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=91}}
Together with his brother-in-law{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=92}} {{ill|Antanas Vanagaitis|lt}}, Olis organized and often performed at various Lithuanian events.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=92}} He particularly liked concerts of classical music. Even though such events were usually not profitable, Vanagaitis and Olis pursued an ambitious cultural program and rented large music venues in Chicago (e.g. [[Hilton Chicago|Stevens Hotel]] or [[Morrison Hotel (Chicago)|Morrison Hotel]]).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=93}} On 19 August 1934, Olis was conductor of the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]] which performed Lithuanian music at the [[Century of Progress]] (Chicago World's Fair).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=92}}<ref name=ville/> In 1954, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Vanagaitis' public work, they organized a particularly large concert at the [[Civic Opera Building]]. It included performances by opera singer Polyna Stoska and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra directed by {{ill|Vytautas Marijošius|lt}}.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=93}}
Olis composed a few music scores (they remained unpublished).<ref name=dapku/> He also wrote the script and directed two Lithuanian movies (one of them for the 30th anniversary of Vanagaitis).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=93}}
In 1935, Olis worked to erect a monument to Lithuanian-American aviators [[Steponas Darius]] and [[Stasys Girėnas]] in [[Marquette Park (Chicago)|Marquette Park]].{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=93}} In 1949–1950, Olis organized exhibitions of works by Lithuanian artists in New York, [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], Boston, Detroit, and Chicago.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=94}}
====Political activities====
Politically, Olis was a member of the nationalist ({{lang|lt|tautininkai}}) camp – the middle road between conservative Catholics and liberal socialists.<ref name=dapku/> However, this camp was divided and did not have a unifying organization. The nationalists gathered around Lithuanian periodicals ''Margutis'' (published by {{ill|Antanas Vanagaitis|lt}}), ''Dirva'', ''Sandara''.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=86}} Olis became more politically active after the [[Soviet occupation of Lithuania (1940)|Soviet occupation of Lithuania]] in June 1940. He saw former President [[Antanas Smetona]] who emigrated to the United States as a key to promoting the cause of Lithuania's independence.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=87}} Olis organized various events, including lectures by Smetona, promoting the cause.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=87}}
After World War II, Olis used his political connections within the Republican Party to publicize the issue of the [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940)|Soviet occupation of the Baltic states]] and advocate for continued [[State continuity of the Baltic states|non-recognition of the occupation]].<ref name=dapku/> Olis organized two large gatherings in Washington DC on March 21–24, 1945 and November 16–17, 1945, that were attended by hundreds of politicians. Olis' speech at the gathering was added to the [[Congressional Record]] on 29 March 1945 by Senator [[Charles W. Tobey]].{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|pp=83–84}}<ref name=senate/> In this speech, Olis demanded a free referendum in Lithuania to determine its relationship with the Soviet Union.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=84}} That same year, Olis and other Lithuanian representatives traveled to the [[United Nations Conference on International Organization]] in San Francisco and presented a memorandum calling to admit Lithuania to the [[United Nations]].{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=84}} In 1952, Olis worked to add the issue of Lithuania and other captive nations to the Republican electoral program.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=84}}
To facilitate his political activities, Olis was a leader of several Lithuanian political organizations. He was chairman of the Association to Liberate Lithuania ({{lang|lt|Lietuvai vaduoti sąjunga}}) founded in 1941 (it later morphed into the American Lithuanian Mission).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=87}} In 1949, three nationalists organizations (including the American Lithuanian Mission) united into the Lithuanian-American National Union ({{lang|lt|Amerikos lietuvių tautinė sąjunga}}) which was chaired by Olis until 1951.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=88}} In 1948, nationalists joined the {{ill|American Lithuanian Council|lt|Amerikos lietuvių taryba}} and Olis became its vice-chairman.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|pp=88–89}}
The nationalists organized the Lithuanian National Relief Fund, which thanks to Olis' political connections, was the only Lithuanian fund registered with the [[National War Fund]].{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=89}} After intense negotiations, nationalists agreed to join the {{ill|United Lithuanian Relief Fund of America|lt|Bendrasis Amerikos lietuvių fondas}} (established in 1944) with other Lithuanian American organizations. Olis became vice-chairmen of this united fund.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=89}}
====Memberships====
Olis was a member of [[American Legion]] and various gentlemen's clubs in Chicago, including the [[South Shore Country Club]], [[Union League Club of Chicago]], [[City Club of Chicago]].<ref name=bar/>
Olis was also a member of various Lithuanian American organizations. He was a founder of a local youth chapter of the {{ill|Lithuanian Alliance of America|lt|Susivienijimas lietuvių Amerikoje}} (LAA). He was elected chairman of LAA's finance committee and assisted with LAA's organizational matters. He was offered chairmanship of LAA several times, but refused.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=86}}
==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=bar>{{cite journal |last= |first= |date=1958 |title=Antony A. Olis |journal=Chicago Bar Record |publisher= |location= |page=236 |volume=40 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Chicago_Bar_Record/S3ezAAAAIAAJ |access-date= |isbn= |issn= |oclc= }}</ref>
<ref name=calumet>{{cite newspaper |newspaper=The Daily Calumet |url=https://argusleader.newspapers.com/...obituary-for-anthony-a/66361526/?locale=en-US |title=Bulletin |date=June 3, 1958 |page= 1}}</ref>
<ref name=dapku>{{cite web |first=Daiva |last=Dapkutė |url=https://pasauliolietuvis.lt/meile-niekad-nematytam-krastui-lietuvai/ |title=Meilė niekad nematytam kraštui – Lietuvai |date=September 24, 2019 |website=Pasaulio lietuvis |publisher=Pasaulio lietuvių bendruomenė |language=lt |access-date=April 13, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name=directory>{{cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Legal_Directory/eiQjAQAAMAAJ |title=Gunthorp's Legal Directory of Chicago |year=1939 |publisher=L.A. Leonard and J. Gunthorp |location= Chicago |page=162}}</ref>
<ref name=lawschool>{{cite journal |journal=Law School Announcements |title=Third-Year Students |date= April 1921 |issue=3 |volume=XXI |url=https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu...1&article=1058&context=lawschoolannouncements |page=18}}</ref>
<ref name=mwrd>{{cite web |url=https://mwrd.org/sites/default/files/documents/List_of_All_Commissioners_230510.pdf |title=Complete List of Board of Commissioners from Date of Organization |publisher=Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago |page=1 |date=2023 |access-date=April 13, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name=olis>{{cite journal |first=Anthony A. |last=Olis |title=The Role of Self-financing Special Districts in the Major Metropolitan Area |journal=Proceedings of the Annual Conference on Taxation under the Auspices of the National Tax Association |volume=50 |year=1957 |page=445 |jstor=23405934}}</ref>
<ref name=senate>{{cite book |url=https://www.congress.gov/bound-congressional-record/1945/03/29/senate-section |title=Congressional Record |chapter=Address By Anthony A. Olis at American-Lithuanian Mission Dinner |page=2935 |date=29 March 1945 |volume= 91, Part 3}}</ref>
<ref name=ville>{{cite web |first=Frank |last=Villella |title= 125 Moments: 059 A Century of Progress |date= March 28, 2016 |url=https://cso.org/experience/article/8592/125-moments-059-a-century-of-progress |publisher=Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association |access-date=April 27, 2024}}</ref>
}}
==Bibliography==
*{{cite journal |first=Daiva |last=Dapkutė |title=Antanas Olis: "Aš neturėjau laimės pamatyti Lietuvos" |url=https://etalpykla.lituanistika.lt/f...7586776/datastreams/DS.002.0.01.ARTIC/content |journal=Istorija |year= 2018 |volume=1 |issue= 109 |pages=77–99 |issn=1392-0456}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olis, Anthony}}
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:1958 deaths]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Chicago]]
[[Category:Illinois Republicans]]
[[Category:American people of Lithuanian descent]]
[[Category:University of Chicago alumni]]
[[Category:University of Chicago Law School alumni]]
Okumaya devam et...
{{Infobox person
| name = Anthony A. Olis
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1898|8|25}}
| birth_place = [[Chicago]], United States
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1958|6|3|1898|8|25}}
| death_place = Chicago, United States
| nationality =
| other_names = Anton A. Olis<ref name=lawschool/> <br/> Antanas Olis<ref name=dapku/>
| occupation = Attorney, activist
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| awards =
| alma_mater = [[University of Chicago Law School]]
| father = {{ill|Antanas Olšauskas|lt|Antanas Olšauskas (1863)}}
}}
'''Anthony A. Olis''' (June 3, 1898 – August 25, 1958) was a [[Lithuanian American]] attorney and activist. He was the president of the [[Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago]] from 1950 to his death.
Born into a family of Lithuanian entrepreneur {{ill|Antanas Olšauskas|lt|Antanas Olšauskas (1863)}}, Olis studied law at the [[University of Chicago Law School]] and worked as an attorney. As a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he was elected to the board of the [[Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago]] in 1946. In 1956, ''Chicago American'' praised Olis' leadership as the sanitary district reduced costs and local taxes while expanding service area and serving more people. Olis campaigned for increased water diversion from [[Lake Michigan]] into the [[Illinois Waterway]], though such legislation was twice vetoed by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].
Olis was active in the Lithuania American cultural and political life. He was a member of the Lithuanian Birutė Choir and organized various Lithuanian events, particularly concerts of classical music. In 1934, Olis was conductor of the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]] which performed Lithuanian music at the [[Century of Progress]] (Chicago World's Fair). Politically, Olis was a member of the nationalist ({{lang|lt|tautininkai}}) camp. After the [[Soviet occupation of Lithuania (1940)|Soviet occupation of Lithuania]] in June 1940, he used his connections in the Republican Party to publicize the issue of the [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940)|Soviet occupation of the Baltic states]] and advocate for continued [[State continuity of the Baltic states|non-recognition of the occupation]]. Olis was chairman or vice-chairman of several Lithuanian American political organizations, including the {{ill|American Lithuanian Council|lt|Amerikos lietuvių taryba}}.
==Biography==
===Early life and education===
Olis was born on August 25, 1898 in [[Chicago]]. His father was {{ill|Antanas Olšauskas|lt|Antanas Olšauskas (1863)}} (also known by his Polonized last name Olszewski) Lithuanian immigrant who founded a bank and published the Lithuanian weekly ''[[Lietuva (Chicago)|Lietuva]]''.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=80}} Olis is the shortened and Americanized surname that replaced his birth name Olszewski.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=81}} His mother died when he was six years old.<ref name=dapku/> After graduating from the [[Calumet High School (Chicago)|Calumet High School]] in 1915, he served in the [[United States Navy]] during World War I.<ref name=bar/>
He then enrolled at the [[University of Chicago]] where he received [[Bachelor of Philosophy|bachelor in philosophy]] (Ph.B.) in 1919. He then studied at the [[University of Chicago Law School]] receiving [[Juris Doctor|doctor of law]] (JD) in 1921.<ref name=bar/> He was admitted to the [[Illinois State Bar Association]] the same year. He worked at the law firms of Goss and Rooney and William Beebe.<ref name=bar/> He later became a partner in Olis, Vasalle & Lapinskas.<ref name=directory/>
===Government service===
Olis joined the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and was active in the 7th ward.<ref name=calumet/> In 1941–1946, he was a Hearing Referee with the [[Illinois Department of Revenue]]. He unsuccessfully ran in the elections for judge in the [[Municipal Court of Chicago]] in 1942 and in 1944.<ref name=bar/>
In November 1946, he was elected to the board of the [[Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago]]<ref name=bar/> and became its president on December 5, 1950. He was reelected as president in 1952 and 1956 and served until his death.<ref name=mwrd/> His work at the sanitary district was well received. In 1952, he received endorsements from all four major Chicago newspapers – ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', ''[[Chicago American]]'', ''[[Chicago Daily News]]'', ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.<ref name=bar/> In 1956, ''Chicago American'' praised Olis for reducing costs and local taxes while expanding service area and serving more people.<ref name=bar/> During his tenure, the sanitary district was expanded twice: by {{convert|121|mi2}} in 1955 and by {{convert|412|mi2|abbr=on}} in 1956 for a total of {{convert|920|mi2|abbr=on}} encompassing 106 municipalities.<ref name=olis/> Olis campaigned for increased water diversion from [[Lake Michigan]] into the [[Illinois Waterway]], though such legislation was twice vetoed by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].<ref name=bar/> In 1956, the sanitary district moved to newly built headquarters that was initiated by Olis.<ref name=dapku/>
Despite severe illness, Olis continued to work at the sanitary district until he entered the [[Albert Merritt Billings Hospital]] where he died a week later on June 3, 1958.<ref name=calumet/>
===Lithuanian activist===
====Cultural activities====
Olis was particularly active among Lithuanian Americans. He spoke fluent Lithuanian even though he never visited the country.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|pp=80, 94}} From an early age, he showed affinity for music. In 1920, he joined the Lithuanian Birutė Choir (originally established by [[Mikas Petrauskas]]). When its choirmaster [[Stasys Šimkus]] returned to Lithuania, Olis was selected as his successor.<ref name=dapku/> In 1923, Birutė Choir and Olis performed operetta ''Bailus daktaras'' (Lithuanian translation and adaption of ''The Doctor of Alcantara'' by [[Julius Eichberg]]). The evening generated a profit of US$2,000 ({{Inflation|US|2000|1923|fmt=eq}}).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=91}}
Together with his brother-in-law{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=92}} {{ill|Antanas Vanagaitis|lt}}, Olis organized and often performed at various Lithuanian events.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=92}} He particularly liked concerts of classical music. Even though such events were usually not profitable, Vanagaitis and Olis pursued an ambitious cultural program and rented large music venues in Chicago (e.g. [[Hilton Chicago|Stevens Hotel]] or [[Morrison Hotel (Chicago)|Morrison Hotel]]).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=93}} On 19 August 1934, Olis was conductor of the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]] which performed Lithuanian music at the [[Century of Progress]] (Chicago World's Fair).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=92}}<ref name=ville/> In 1954, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Vanagaitis' public work, they organized a particularly large concert at the [[Civic Opera Building]]. It included performances by opera singer Polyna Stoska and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra directed by {{ill|Vytautas Marijošius|lt}}.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=93}}
Olis composed a few music scores (they remained unpublished).<ref name=dapku/> He also wrote the script and directed two Lithuanian movies (one of them for the 30th anniversary of Vanagaitis).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=93}}
In 1935, Olis worked to erect a monument to Lithuanian-American aviators [[Steponas Darius]] and [[Stasys Girėnas]] in [[Marquette Park (Chicago)|Marquette Park]].{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=93}} In 1949–1950, Olis organized exhibitions of works by Lithuanian artists in New York, [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], Boston, Detroit, and Chicago.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=94}}
====Political activities====
Politically, Olis was a member of the nationalist ({{lang|lt|tautininkai}}) camp – the middle road between conservative Catholics and liberal socialists.<ref name=dapku/> However, this camp was divided and did not have a unifying organization. The nationalists gathered around Lithuanian periodicals ''Margutis'' (published by {{ill|Antanas Vanagaitis|lt}}), ''Dirva'', ''Sandara''.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=86}} Olis became more politically active after the [[Soviet occupation of Lithuania (1940)|Soviet occupation of Lithuania]] in June 1940. He saw former President [[Antanas Smetona]] who emigrated to the United States as a key to promoting the cause of Lithuania's independence.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=87}} Olis organized various events, including lectures by Smetona, promoting the cause.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=87}}
After World War II, Olis used his political connections within the Republican Party to publicize the issue of the [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940)|Soviet occupation of the Baltic states]] and advocate for continued [[State continuity of the Baltic states|non-recognition of the occupation]].<ref name=dapku/> Olis organized two large gatherings in Washington DC on March 21–24, 1945 and November 16–17, 1945, that were attended by hundreds of politicians. Olis' speech at the gathering was added to the [[Congressional Record]] on 29 March 1945 by Senator [[Charles W. Tobey]].{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|pp=83–84}}<ref name=senate/> In this speech, Olis demanded a free referendum in Lithuania to determine its relationship with the Soviet Union.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=84}} That same year, Olis and other Lithuanian representatives traveled to the [[United Nations Conference on International Organization]] in San Francisco and presented a memorandum calling to admit Lithuania to the [[United Nations]].{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=84}} In 1952, Olis worked to add the issue of Lithuania and other captive nations to the Republican electoral program.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=84}}
To facilitate his political activities, Olis was a leader of several Lithuanian political organizations. He was chairman of the Association to Liberate Lithuania ({{lang|lt|Lietuvai vaduoti sąjunga}}) founded in 1941 (it later morphed into the American Lithuanian Mission).{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=87}} In 1949, three nationalists organizations (including the American Lithuanian Mission) united into the Lithuanian-American National Union ({{lang|lt|Amerikos lietuvių tautinė sąjunga}}) which was chaired by Olis until 1951.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=88}} In 1948, nationalists joined the {{ill|American Lithuanian Council|lt|Amerikos lietuvių taryba}} and Olis became its vice-chairman.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|pp=88–89}}
The nationalists organized the Lithuanian National Relief Fund, which thanks to Olis' political connections, was the only Lithuanian fund registered with the [[National War Fund]].{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=89}} After intense negotiations, nationalists agreed to join the {{ill|United Lithuanian Relief Fund of America|lt|Bendrasis Amerikos lietuvių fondas}} (established in 1944) with other Lithuanian American organizations. Olis became vice-chairmen of this united fund.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=89}}
====Memberships====
Olis was a member of [[American Legion]] and various gentlemen's clubs in Chicago, including the [[South Shore Country Club]], [[Union League Club of Chicago]], [[City Club of Chicago]].<ref name=bar/>
Olis was also a member of various Lithuanian American organizations. He was a founder of a local youth chapter of the {{ill|Lithuanian Alliance of America|lt|Susivienijimas lietuvių Amerikoje}} (LAA). He was elected chairman of LAA's finance committee and assisted with LAA's organizational matters. He was offered chairmanship of LAA several times, but refused.{{sfn|Dapkutė|2018|p=86}}
==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=bar>{{cite journal |last= |first= |date=1958 |title=Antony A. Olis |journal=Chicago Bar Record |publisher= |location= |page=236 |volume=40 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Chicago_Bar_Record/S3ezAAAAIAAJ |access-date= |isbn= |issn= |oclc= }}</ref>
<ref name=calumet>{{cite newspaper |newspaper=The Daily Calumet |url=https://argusleader.newspapers.com/...obituary-for-anthony-a/66361526/?locale=en-US |title=Bulletin |date=June 3, 1958 |page= 1}}</ref>
<ref name=dapku>{{cite web |first=Daiva |last=Dapkutė |url=https://pasauliolietuvis.lt/meile-niekad-nematytam-krastui-lietuvai/ |title=Meilė niekad nematytam kraštui – Lietuvai |date=September 24, 2019 |website=Pasaulio lietuvis |publisher=Pasaulio lietuvių bendruomenė |language=lt |access-date=April 13, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name=directory>{{cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Legal_Directory/eiQjAQAAMAAJ |title=Gunthorp's Legal Directory of Chicago |year=1939 |publisher=L.A. Leonard and J. Gunthorp |location= Chicago |page=162}}</ref>
<ref name=lawschool>{{cite journal |journal=Law School Announcements |title=Third-Year Students |date= April 1921 |issue=3 |volume=XXI |url=https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu...1&article=1058&context=lawschoolannouncements |page=18}}</ref>
<ref name=mwrd>{{cite web |url=https://mwrd.org/sites/default/files/documents/List_of_All_Commissioners_230510.pdf |title=Complete List of Board of Commissioners from Date of Organization |publisher=Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago |page=1 |date=2023 |access-date=April 13, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name=olis>{{cite journal |first=Anthony A. |last=Olis |title=The Role of Self-financing Special Districts in the Major Metropolitan Area |journal=Proceedings of the Annual Conference on Taxation under the Auspices of the National Tax Association |volume=50 |year=1957 |page=445 |jstor=23405934}}</ref>
<ref name=senate>{{cite book |url=https://www.congress.gov/bound-congressional-record/1945/03/29/senate-section |title=Congressional Record |chapter=Address By Anthony A. Olis at American-Lithuanian Mission Dinner |page=2935 |date=29 March 1945 |volume= 91, Part 3}}</ref>
<ref name=ville>{{cite web |first=Frank |last=Villella |title= 125 Moments: 059 A Century of Progress |date= March 28, 2016 |url=https://cso.org/experience/article/8592/125-moments-059-a-century-of-progress |publisher=Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association |access-date=April 27, 2024}}</ref>
}}
==Bibliography==
*{{cite journal |first=Daiva |last=Dapkutė |title=Antanas Olis: "Aš neturėjau laimės pamatyti Lietuvos" |url=https://etalpykla.lituanistika.lt/f...7586776/datastreams/DS.002.0.01.ARTIC/content |journal=Istorija |year= 2018 |volume=1 |issue= 109 |pages=77–99 |issn=1392-0456}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olis, Anthony}}
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:1958 deaths]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Chicago]]
[[Category:Illinois Republicans]]
[[Category:American people of Lithuanian descent]]
[[Category:University of Chicago alumni]]
[[Category:University of Chicago Law School alumni]]
Okumaya devam et...