A house RESOLUTION

To recognize and congratulate Brother Henry Robinson of Beaufort County on serving as the first African American mayor of the Town of Port Royal and to thank him for his innumerable contributions and service to the State of South Carolina.

Whereas, Brother Henry Robinson was born in Port Royal in 1936, the son of the late William and Elizabeth Robinson. He is the second of fourteen siblings. As it was a common occurrence during those days, Brother Robinson was delivered at home by a midwife; and

Whereas, he attended the Robert Smalls High School in Beaufort from which he graduated in 1956. Following graduation from high school, he began working as a delivery specialist for Aimar's Pharmacy in Beaufort; and

Whereas, Brother Robinson later became a tailor and was employed by the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island for fifty years. While employed there, he distinguished himself by designing and creating "dress blues" for the base's bulldog mascot. He considered Parris Island as his second home for one-half of a century; and

Whereas, he developed an interest in politics in his early thirties and was elected to the Port Royal Town Council in 1969, becoming the first African American to hold such a position in Port Royal; and

Whereas, Brother Robinson served for two terms on the town council before again making history by being elected the mayor of Port Royal, the first African American to serve in that position. He served as Port Royal's mayor for eighteen years before retiring. However, his continued interest in politics brought him out of retirement, running for and winning a seat on the town council. All told, his political career spanned thirty-eight years; and

Whereas, a family man, he was married to the late Jannie Robinson for thirty-eight years, and the couple had four children. He is presently married to Linda Jenkins Robinson with whom he provides a home for foster children; and

Whereas, Brother Robinson's love for his community, state, and nation is evidenced by the organizations to which he has dedicated his time and talent over the decades, including the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War of Beaufort, the Lowcountry Council of Governments, the South Carolina Municipal Association Board of Directors, the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry, the Conference of Black Mayors, the Robert Smalls Alumni Association, the C&S Bank Board of Directors, the Beaufort County Foster Parents Association, the White House Forum (President Jimmy Carter's administration), the Beaufort County Housing Authority, the Beaufort-Jasper EOC, and Union Baptist Church; and

Whereas, the accomplishments of Brother Robinson have not gone unnoticed by his community. The Town of Port Royal boasts both a "Robinson Street" and the "Henry Robinson Boardwalk" in his honor; and

Whereas, for relaxation, Brother Robinson turns to fishing and crabbing. He also loves to garden and has a green thumb, and he leaves time for reclining in his favorite recliner while watching television. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate Brother Henry Robinson of Beaufort County on serving as the first African American mayor of the Town of Port Royal and to thank him for his innumerable contributions and service to the State of South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Brother Henry Robinson.

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