Richard Robinson (chief executive)
Richard Robinson | |
---|---|
Born | Maurice Richard Robinson Jr. May 15, 1937 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | June 5, 2021 Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, U.S. | (aged 84)
Education | Harvard College St Catharine's College, Cambridge Teachers College, Columbia University |
Occupation | Chief executive, educator |
Employer | Scholastic Corporation |
Spouse(s) | Katherine Woodroofe (m. 1968; div.) Helen V. Benham
(m. 1986; div. 2003) |
Children | 2, with Helen V. Benham |
Maurice Richard Robinson Jr. (May 15, 1937 – June 5, 2021) was an American business executive and educator. From 1975 until his death in 2021, Robinson was the chief executive officer of Scholastic Corporation, a publishing company founded by his father Maurice Robinson. Robinson was noted for bringing many book franchises to younger readers, such as Harry Potter and Captain Underpants.[1]
Early life[]
Robinson was born in 1937 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Florence née Liddell and Maurice R. Robinson.[2][3][4][5] He was raised in Manhattan.[6] He was educated at Harvard College and later at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, in England, and at Teacher's College, Columbia University, where he later became a benefactor, to be a high school teacher.[2][7]
He began his career as a high school English teacher in Evanston, Illinois.[2][8] In the mid-1960s, he began working at Scholastic Corporation.[9]
Business career[]
In 1971, Robinson became a board member of Scholastic.[10] In 1974, he became President of Scholastic and CEO a year later.[2] He was elected to the position of chairman of the board in 1982.[2]
During his tenure as Scholastic CEO, he oversaw the company's financial struggles and successes.[9] He saw the company's success of the Harry Potter series and battled censors of Harry Potter, Captain Underpants and Alex Gino’s George as inappropriate for younger readers.[9] The New York Times credits Robinson for making it possible for the Harry Potter and The Hunger Games novel franchises to reach the American public.[1]
Robinson's tenure also oversaw an overhaul of historic changes, whether the rise of digital media or the increased emphasis on diversity and scrutiny of the past.[11] In 2016, Scholastic and Robinson faced controversy over the publication of a picture story titled A Birthday Cake for George Washington, which depicted one of Washington's slaves.[11] The book was pulled by Scholastic after widespread criticism.[11]
In response to his goal for Scholastic to be informed of the changing culture, Robinson said "We are dealing with issues like global warming, racial inequality in a way that doesn’t polarize the issue but gives points of views on both sides and is a balanced neutral position but not in a sense of being bland".[8]
Personal life[]
In 1968, Robinson married Katherine Woodroofe, a magazine editor at Scholastic.[12] They later divorced. Robinson was married to Helen V. Benham, who founded the Early Childhood Division at Scholastic, and with whom he had two children,[13] from 1986 until 2003.[5] He lived in New York City and owned a condo in Greenwich Village until 2016.[14] He stated that James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man was a personal favorite and inspiration during his tenure as Scholastic CEO.[6]
He died on June 5, 2021, while on vacation with his family on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, aged 84.[9][5] The cause was said to be either a stroke or a heart attack.[5]
Awards and honors[]
Robinson received an honorary National Book Award for his contributions to the literary community.[9] PEN America noted him for his contributions to free expression in literature and publishing.[9]
References[]
- ^ a b "Richard Robinson of Scholastic Honored for Lifetime of Work in Children's Publishing". The New York Times. September 20, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Richard Robinson". Scholastic.com. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Richard Robinson". Alasnome. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ Hamersly, Lewis Randolph; Leonard, John W.; Mohr, William Frederick; Knox, Herman Warren; Holmes, Frank R.; Downs, Winfield Scott (1938). "Who's who in New York City and State".
- ^ a b c d Roberts, Sam (June 7, 2021). "Richard Robinson Dies at 84; Turned Scholastic into an Empire". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "ON MY...BOOKSHELF; RICHARD ROBINSON". The New York Times. August 22, 1999. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Sad News: The Passing of TC's Richard Robinson | June | 2021 | Newsroom | Teachers College, Columbia University". Teachers College - Columbia University. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ a b "Richard Robinson, Longtime CEO Of Scholastic, Dies at 84". Deadline. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Richard Robinson, Longtime Scholastic CEO, Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Profile: Richard Robinson". Bloomberg. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Richard Robinson, Longtime Scholastic CEO, Dead at 84". USN. June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Maurice Robinson Jr. Weds Katherine Prentis Woodroofe". The New York Times. May 18, 1968. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ "Richard Robinson, longtime Scholastic CEO, dead at 84". The Seattle Times. June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Scholastic CEO Richard Robinson Lists Devonshire House Condo for $9.25M". Observer. February 8, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richard Robinson (chief executive). |
- Profile: Richard Robinson at Wallmine
- Interview with Dick Robinson at Bamboo Innovator
- 1937 births
- 2021 deaths
- American chief executives
- American high school teachers
- Businesspeople from Pittsburgh
- Businesspeople from New York City
- Harvard College alumni
- Alumni of the University of Cambridge
- Teachers College, Columbia University alumni
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- 21st-century American businesspeople