[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 164 (Thursday, October 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       TRIBUTE TO JOHN ROBERTSON

 Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize my 
friend John Robertson, a dedicated servant to the great people of West 
Virginia and native of our State capital, Charleston. After a 41-year 
career, John is retiring as the general manager of the Charleston 
Coliseum and Convention Center. Throughout these past four decades, 
John's leadership has transformed the facility, turning it into one of 
the cultural epicenters of our State.
  In August of 1978, with a bachelor's degree from the University of 
Charleston under his belt, John began his career as an assistant 
manager for the Charleston Civic Center. At the time, the building was 
in its fledgling stages, having just broken ground the month before. 
For John, it was all hands on deck, and he hit the ground running, 
assisting in structural related duties, as well as the concession stand 
operations. Two years later, in August of 1980, the Charleston Civic 
Center was host to its first big concert--the band Queen.
  With John's vision and leadership at the helm, this was just the 
beginning for the Charleston Civic Center. Soon after the center was 
completed, the necessary renovations to turn the civic center into 
exhibit and meeting facilities were well under way. Through additional 
construction, two parking structures were placed contiguous to the 
Civic Center, creating an entirely different complex by 1983.
  John's greatest of many accomplishments has come within the past few 
years, when approval of a city sales tax appropriated the proper 
funding to build the state-of-the-art facility that he had always 
dreamed of creating for his home town. John worked tirelessly with the 
mayor and Charleston city council, civic center board members, his 
staff, city planners, and consulting firms to complete the new 
Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in the fall of 2018. This 
achievement is underscored by the fact that the center was continually 
operated during the entire construction period.
  The Charleston Civic Center is held so fondly in the memories of so 
many West Virginians. For some, it is where they saw their favorite 
band perform live for the first time. For others, it was where they 
were able to bring home a State basketball title. From Garth Brooks 
concerts, to oldtime car shows, West Virginia versus Marshall 
basketball games or the West Virginia Book Festival, one thing has 
remained the same; that is, John's dedication to the citizens of 
Charleston through his tireless work to make sure that every detail of 
every event, no matter how big or small, held at the Charleston Civic 
Center was in place.
  In retirement, John will now have more time to spend with his loving 
wife Kimberly, his daughters Bethany and Allyson, and his grandchildren 
Lucy and Henry, but the lasting effects of what he did for our State 
and the city of Charleston will continue on for generations to come. I 
wish John all the best as he continues to make a difference in his 
community with his unwavering diligence and kind soul. It is truly an 
honor to call you friend and fellow West Virginian.

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