[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14645-14646]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO RICHARD ROBINSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2007

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a minute to pay 
tribute to a friend and staff member who will be leaving my employment 
soon. His name is Richard Robinson, my Chief of Staff. He is a man 
possessing great loyalty and integrity.
  I first met Richard when he interned for me when I was a State 
Senator in California. In 1991, he graduated from California 
Polytechnic State University and came to work for me as a full-time 
paid employee. It quickly became clear that Richard was a resourceful 
man whom I could count on for hard work, concise communication and keen 
strategic thinking. In January, 1991, I was elected to the United 
States House of Representatives, and I brought Richard with me to my 
Congressional office as a Field Representative.
  In 1994, he married Jennifer Michele Edwards, and today they are the 
parents of three beautiful girls: Allison, Taylor and Lauryn. Richard 
is a wonderful father and dedicated husband, and I can understand why, 
after sixteen years of intense work for me, he has chosen to look to a 
new career path that may afford him a more predictable and flexible 
work schedule. Richard will be sorely missed, but knowing Jennifer and 
the children as I do, I can understand his decision.

[[Page 14646]]

  I also know Richard to have a big heart. He was a night shift 
volunteer at the University of California Davis emergency room in 1999; 
he was a youth pastor of a high school Christian group from 1998 to 
2003; and he was Director of Habitat for Humanity's Youth Build program 
in 1999.
  In 2002, Richard graduated from Stanford University, ranking first in 
his class, with a Master of Arts degree in Education. He also earned a 
California teaching credential at the same time. I can only imagine how 
difficult it was for him to attend school and raise a family, but I am 
not surprised that Richard was successful. His mother, Melinda, tells 
me that he began reading as early as three years of age and was elected 
class president in the sixth grade at Rock Creek Grammar School. At 
Placer High School, he played soccer, but particularly excelled at 
basketball, a sport made for a man six feet five inches tall.
  Richard's service to me has been notable because he has always been 
willing to put others ahead of himself. He has seen the benefit of 
developing a team based on strong relationships and mutual respect. 
Even at our most trying times, I always knew that Richard was acting 
with my best interests in mind.
  As he looks to new opportunities, (and I know they will be numerous 
for a man of his talents) I wish him and his family much happiness and 
success.

                          ____________________