[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PAYING TRIBUTE TO DR. RONALD ROBINSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2002

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to Dr. Ronald Robinson and thank him for his extraordinary 
contributions to the University of Southern Colorado, his alma mater, 
and to the petroleum-engineering field, to which he has contributed so 
much. Since graduating from the University of Southern Colorado, Dr. 
Robinson has become one of the preeminent thinkers and innovators in 
his field, advancing and overseeing technologies that contribute to 
making each and every one of our lives better. His remarkable 
accomplishments are surpassed only by the level of integrity and 
honesty with which he has conducted himself each and every day, a trait 
we have come to expect from graduates of the University of Southern 
Colorado, but one that Dr. Robinson embodies so well. As we celebrate 
his tremendous accomplishment of receiving the Alumni Achievement 
Award, let it be known that I, along with the people of Colorado and 
this nation, applaud his efforts, and are eternally grateful for all 
that he has accomplished in his distinguished career.
  Always the consummate academic, Dr. Robinson graduated from Southern 
Colorado State College (now the University of Southern Colorado) in 
1968, with a degree in math and physics, and then went on to earn his 
masters in physics from Baylor University, and finally his doctoral 
degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University. After 
earning his doctoral degree, Dr. Robinson embarked upon an impressive 
career in the petroleum engineering industry, emerging time and again 
as a leader and innovator in the field. In 1996, he was named President 
of Texaco Technology, where he was responsible for all of Texaco's 
research, development, engineering, information technology and 
technical applications throughout the world. While at Texaco, he 
managed a total operating budget of over $450 million a year, as well 
as an investment portfolio of almost $500 million.
  As a testament to his expertise and intellect, in 2001, Dr. Robinson 
became professor and department head of the Albert B. Stevens Endowed 
Chair in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas 
A&M University. He was recently named Chairman of the Board of 
Verdisys, a provider of satellite broadband infrastructure for energy 
and rural enterprises, and is a director of the Global Petroleum 
Research Institute and the Network of Excellence in Training. In 
addition, he is the Chairman, CEO and President of UniPure, Corp., an 
energy company that develops process technologies for the oil industry. 
Perhaps most importantly, he has three children, Kevin, Kyle and Kurt, 
with his wife Bonnie Lynn Martin. -
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Dr. Ronald Robinson is a man of 
unparalleled talent, dedication, and intellect, who has, throughout his 
career, reached extraordinary heights and achieved incredible things. 
He has proven himself to be among the best in his field, and it is a 
great honor to be able to bring his many accomplishments to the 
attention of this body of Congress. It is my privilege to extend to him 
my sincere congratulations on receiving the Alumni Achievement Award 
from the University of Southern Colorado, and wish him all the best in 
his multitude of endeavors.

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