[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTE TO ROBERT BILLINGSLEA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 28, 2012

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a wonderful 
corporate and community leader upon his retirement. Robert Billingslea 
is retiring on March 31, 2012 as the Corporate Director of Urban 
Affairs for the Walt Disney Company. His professional efforts have 
enhanced the strength and diversity of the Disney Company, and his 
civic endeavors have made a tremendous impact on the city of Orlando.
  Robert Lee Billingslea was born on December 20, 1937, to Faye and 
Robert Billingslea. He was raised by his grandparents on the south side 
of Youngstown, Ohio. Growing up he attended local public schools, and 
found his passion in music. He began playing the drums at age 12, and 
at 16 he was playing professionally. In 1956 he graduated from South 
High School, and was voted ``most musical'' in his class. His love of 
music spurred him to move to California following graduation to pursue 
a career as a musician. He studied music at Vallejo Junior College, 
while performing with several West Coast bands.
  In 1958, he returned to his hometown and continued to tour the 
country playing drums for various musical groups. Two years later, he 
enrolled in Kent State University to study sociology. In his senior 
year, he worked in juvenile court, and upon graduation became a 
probation officer in Akron, Ohio's juvenile court system. Mr. 
Billingslea went on to serve as a community organizer for the Office of 
Economic Opportunity. In 1966, an opportunity to become a wage and 
salary compensation analyst at Martin Marietta Corporation (now 
Lockheed Martin) took his life on a new trajectory in Orlando, Florida.
  He joined the Walt Disney Company in 1969, and went to work at 
Disneyland in California as a senior personnel representative. But he 
quickly returned to Orlando where he was involved in the opening of the 
new Disney World facility in 1971. He has remained with Disney since 
that time, climbing the ladder to his current position as Corporate 
Director of Urban Affairs.
  In addition to his position at Disney, Mr. Billingslea has been just 
as active in his community. When he returned to Orlando, he became 
chair of the Orlando Human Relations Board. Four governors also 
appointed him to serve on the Florida State Commission on Human 
Relations. It was during this time that our paths crossed and we became 
fast friends.
  In 1985, his work at Disney brought him together with the NAACP, 
which was reviewing the company's employment practices for African 
Americans. Mr. Billingslea served as Disney's liaison to the NAACP, and 
a lasting relationship formed. He began working with the NAACP's Youth 
initiative, Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics 
(ACT SO). Through this program, he helped African American youth 
enhance their academic, artistic and scientific abilities. He served on 
the ACT SO Industry Advisory Council, as a Special Contributions Fund 
Trustee, and on the NAACP Image Awards Committee.
  His experiences working with youth in the juvenile court system 
ignited a lifelong passion. He serves as an ambassador to the Boys & 
Girls Club of Central Florida, as a trustee for Bethune-Cookman 
University, and as an advisor to the Central Florida Urban League. He 
is also a member of the board for the League of Black Women and the 
Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation.
  Bob has been honored with numerous awards include the National 
Service to Youth Award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for his 
30 years of dedicated service and the Whitney M. Young Award from the 
Metropolitan Orlando Urban League in recognition of his help in 
founding and supporting the local Urban League chapter.
  Mr. Billingslea and his wife Deidre (DeeDee) live in Orlando, and are 
the parents of one son. They are also the proud grandparents of two 
grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me today in 
celebrating the extraordinary contributions of Robert Billingslea. This 
a man who came from humble beginnings who started out hoping to change 
the world with his music, but ended up beating a different drum. He has 
helped shape the Walt Disney Company into the beloved entertainment 
empire it is today and still found time to help build a better 
community in Central Florida. I wish him well in his retirement, and 
know that he will continue to share his time and talents with others.

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