THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WATERS, THOMAS, PARKER, BRADFORD, CALTAGIRONE, CONKLIN, DALEY, DAVIS, DiGIROLAMO, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HELM, YOUNGBLOOD, FABRIZIO, HENNESSEY, JAMES, MAHONEY, MILLARD, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, VEREB AND WILLIAMS, JULY 31, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JULY 31, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life of business leader, attorney, author and

historian, Edward W. Robinson, Jr., and extending condolences

to his family and friends.

WHEREAS, Mr. Edward W. Robinson, Jr., was born on April 24,

1918, in Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson attended Philadelphia Public Schools

and graduated from Central High School; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson continued his education by earning an

undergraduate degree from Virginia State College for Negroes,

now known as Virginia State University, in 1940 and also

attended both the Wharton School of the University of

Pennsylvania and Temple University School of Law; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson began a successful career in insurance

in 1950, becoming an owner and executive of the Provident Home

Industrial Mutual Life Insurance Company; and

WHEREAS, By 1974, with Mr. Robinson as its chief executive,

the company was ranked by Black Enterprises Magazine 20th among

the nation's 100 biggest African-American-owned businesses, with

117 employees and $2.7 million in assets; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson was also dedicated to public service;

and

WHEREAS, After serving as a member of the board of directors

for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia from 1972 to 1975,

he was appointed by Governor Milton Shapp to direct the

Pennsylvania Bureau of Occupational Affairs, where he oversaw

the Commonwealth's professional licensing boards; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, Mr. Robinson returned to Philadelphia to

continue his public service on the local level as the assistant

managing director for the city's Office of Minority

Opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson later became the director of

Philadelphia's Office of Minority Opportunities and strove to

increase entrepreneurship among minorities; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson was well known for his passion and

advocacy of African and African-American history and his

interest inspired him to produce films and coauthor such books

as Twas the Night Before Kwanza and the Journey of the Songhai

People; and

WHEREAS, His animated children's story, The Songhai Princess,

won several national awards; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his books and films, he drafted

educational guidelines for teaching African-American history for

the Philadelphia City School District; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson further demonstrated his commitment to

educating the community about African and African-American

history when he developed the curriculum for the d'Zert Club of

Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, On June 13, 2012, Mr. Robinson passed away at the

age of 94, surrounded by family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson is survived by his wife, Harriette C.

Robinson; his daughters, Pamela Robinson-Johnson and Michelle

Harman; his sister, Elaine A. Richardson; nine grandchildren;

eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren;

and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson will be remembered for his unwavering

commitment to public service and entrepreneurism and for his

contributions to education in the African-American community and

this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson's legacy will never be forgotten;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life of

Edward W. Robinson, Jr., express its sadness upon his passing

and offer its condolences to his family and friends; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

Ms. Elaine Richardson, 5325 Old York Road, Apt. 717,

Philadelphia, PA 19141-3925.