[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8149-H8150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RONALD A. ROBINSON POST OFFICE
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6080) to designate the facility of
the United States Postal Service located at 5420 Kavanaugh Boulevard in
Little Rock, Arkansas, as the ``Ronald A. Robinson Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6080
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. RONALD A. ROBINSON POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 5420 Kavanaugh Boulevard in Little Rock,
Arkansas, shall be known and designated as the ``Ronald A.
Robinson Post Office''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the ``Ronald A. Robinson Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Hice) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise
and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this
measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6080 to designate the
facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 5420 Kavanaugh Boulevard
in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the Ronald A. Robinson Post Office.
Mr. Robinson was a graduate of the University of Arkansas at
Fayetteville, where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. He
went on to study public relations at Boston University's Graduate
School of Public Communications.
He served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain and was awarded a Bronze
Star in Vietnam. He also received the Air Force Commendation Medal in
1969 for his support of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon.
Mr. Robinson, in 1970, joined the marketing and communications firm
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. After 26 years, he retired from the
firm as its chief executive officer. During his tenure, the firm became
the largest advertising agency in Arkansas, with notable business and
political clients.
In 1993, he was appointed to the U.S. Postal Service's Citizens'
Stamp Advisory Committee by the U.S. Postmaster General. In 2005, Mr.
Robinson was named chairman of that committee. During his 15 years
serving on the committee, Mr. Robinson was involved in the creation and
production of more than 1,750 postage stamp issues.
He used his influence to highlight Arkansas in several of the newly
issued postage stamps.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in honoring Mr.
Robinson by naming a post office in Little Rock, Arkansas, after him.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1545
Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6080, which honors Ronald A.
Robinson.
We name many post offices for a variety of reasons around here, but
the one we are considering now is notable in that it reflects Mr.
Robinson's lifelong interest in and support of postal matters.
Specifically, Mr. Robinson was an avid stamp collector, but this was
not just a hobby. In fact, between 1993 and 2008, he served on the
Postal Service's Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, a body appointed
by the Postmaster General to recommend subjects for commemoration on
U.S. postal stamps. Mr. Robinson served as chairman of the committee
for the last 3 years of his life and tenure.
Over the 15 years he served on the committee, Mr. Robinson was
involved in the creation and production of more than 1,750 postal
stamps. In addition to his service to the Postal Service, Mr. Robinson
served as captain in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam war, for
which he was awarded a Bronze Star. He also received the Air Force
Commendation Medal for his support of the Apollo 11 mission to the
Moon.
In addition to his public service, Mr. Robinson also enjoyed a
successful private-sector career. After leaving the Air Force, he
joined Cranford, Johnson,
[[Page H8150]]
Robinson, Woods, a marketing and communications firm in Arkansas.
He began as an intern at the firm and rose to become the firm's CEO--
helping build it into the largest advertising agency in Arkansas and
receiving numerous awards and recognitions along the way.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Robinson passed away in 2018, leaving a legacy of
service and accomplishment. I encourage my colleagues to support this
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman
from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), the author of this bill.
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Hice, and the
chairwoman for this time.
Mr. Speaker, I do indeed rise today in support of H.R. 6080, the bill
to designate the U.S. Post Office at 5420 Kavanaugh Boulevard in Little
Rock, Arkansas, as the Ronald A. Robinson Post Office.
Ron, as he was known, was truly larger than life. Ron was born on
April 3, 1943, and he passed away August 14, 2018, at 75 years old. Ron
lived an extraordinary life that included serving with distinction as
an Air Force captain, communications professional, and an avid stamp
collector.
Ron attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he
earned his degree in journalism. While studying journalism, he was a
sportswriter covering the Arkansas Razorbacks for the Arkansas Gazette.
He was also editor of the University of Arkansas newspaper, The
Arkansas Traveler.
In 1966, Ron attended the Boston University Graduate School of Public
Communications to study public relations.
Ron joined the Air Force, and he served as an officer for nearly 5
years. During his time in the Air Force, he rose to the rank of
captain. His assignments included being the head of internal
information for the nationwide Air Force ROTC program. He was also
chief of combat news and the director of information for the Defense
Intelligence Agency's Aeronautical Chart and Information Center.
Ron earned a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. He also earned
the Air Force Commendation Medal for his support of 1969 Apollo 11
mission to the Moon. After his career as a sportswriter and Air Force
captain, Ron became a PR expert at Cranford, Johnson.
Out of his public relations career, Ron was an avid collector of
Arkansas political and historical memorabilia, U.S. postage stamps, and
vintage movie posters. His house was literally a museum.
Ron began collecting stamps as a boy. He loved history and pop
culture. Stamps were able to connect both of these interests for Ron
Robinson.
In 1993, Ron was appointed to the U.S. Postal Service's Citizens'
Stamp Advisory Committee by the U.S. Postmaster General. The U.S.
Postal Service's Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee recommends new
postage stamps to the Postmaster General.
Serving on that committee was the role of a lifetime for Ron
Robinson. It was an incredible honor for him, and he treasured every
moment of his 15 years. He served as chair of the committee from 2005
to 2008, when, as noted, over that period of time he was involved in
the creation and development of 1,750 postage stamps.
Some of Ron's favorites are here with us: 1996 Fulbright Scholarship
stamp; the 2001 Hattie Caraway, the first woman elected to the United
States Senate; and the 2005 Little Rock Central High School civil
rights stamp.
Ron was able to use his influence to ensure that Arkansas was the
subject of many newly issued postage stamps.
Ron's work and love for stamps made him an influential figure in the
city of Little Rock and our State of Arkansas. He was a father, mentor,
and good friend to many, including me.
Ron was well-known for being a prolific writer, and he would write
hundreds of handwritten thank you notes and cards to his friends for
encouragement throughout his life. He enjoyed writing those notes and
placing the postage stamp on the envelope himself.
Ron's love for postage stamps and his work on the Postal Service's
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee makes him the ideal citizen--as my
friend, Mr. Hice, noted--to lend his name to his neighborhood post
office after recognition of his lifetime of service to Arkansas and the
United States.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill, and I
thank my friends on both sides of the aisle.
Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I
am prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. I urge my colleagues to support it,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of
H.R. 6080, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6080.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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