[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 17 (Monday, January 29, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT C. DAVIDSON, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 29, 2007

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special recognition to 
Robert C. Davidson, Jr. upon being named recipient of Morehouse 
College's Bennie Leadership Award for the year 2007.
  Robert Davidson's long and distinguished career began in the late 
1960s, when he began as a Management Consultant with the New York-based 
Cresap, McCormick and Paget. Robert later moved to Boston, where he 
cofounded and served as Vice President of the Urban National 
Corporation, a private venture capital company established with a 
commitment to increase industry's investment in minority-controlled 
businesses.
  Mr. Davidson's entrepreneurial spirit continued as he served as Chief 
Executive Officer of Avant Garde Enterprises, and it later led him to 
develop and head his own management and consulting firm. In 1978, 
Robert formed Surface Protection Industries, Inc. (SPI) and served as 
its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, SPI 
developed into one of California's leading African-American-owned 
manufacturing companies.
  Robert Davidson has a strong commitment to community involvement and 
voluntary service. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the 
following organizations: Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia; Jacobs 
Engineering Group, Inc. (NYSE); Broadway Federal Bank (NASDAQ); Fulcrum 
Venture Capital Corporation; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; the 
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Advisory Council; Art 
Center College of Design in Pasadena; the South Coast Air Quality 
Management District Brain Tumor and Air Pollution Foundation; and the 
Los Angeles Urban League.
  Prior board affiliations include Children's Hospital of Los Angeles; 
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce; Rebuild LA; Museum of 
Contemporary Art; Charles Drew University School of Medicine; Armory 
Center for the Arts in Pasadena; Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem; 
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Falcon Cable Community Ventures; the 
African/American Museum of Art; the Black-Jewish Economic Development 
Committee of Los Angeles; Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles; the 
Weingart Center for the Homeless; and the Planning Commission for the 
City of Pasadena.
  Mr. Davidson lives in Pasadena with his wife Faye and their three 
sons, Robert III, John Roderick, and Julian.
  I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an 
outstanding individual of California's 29th Congressional District, 
Robert C. Davidson, Jr. The entire community joins me in thanking 
Robert for his success and continued efforts toward making the 29th 
Congressional District a better place in which to live and work.

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