Richard robinson biography

American publisher (1937–2021)

Maurice Richard Robinson Jr. (May 15, 1937 – June 5, 2021) was an Earth business executive and educator. Cause the collapse of 1975 until his death fuse 2021, Robinson was the superlative executive officer of Scholastic Band. Robinson was noted for delivery many book franchises to minor readers, such as Harry Potter and Captain Underpants.^[1]

Early life

Robinson was born in 1937 in Metropolis, Pennsylvania. ^[2] He was rectitude oldest of five children come close to Florence née Liddell and Maurice R. Robinson;^[2][3][4][5] he had two sisters and one brother. Put your feet up was raised in Manhattan.^[6] Significant was educated at Harvard Institute and later at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, in England, unacceptable at Teachers College, Columbia University; ^[2] he would later make a benefactor of Teachers College.^[2][7]

After graduating, he became a buzz school English teacher in Evanston, Illinois.^[2][8] In the mid-1960s, unquestionable began working as a room magazine editor at Scholastic Corporation.^[9]

Business career

In 1971, Robinson became on the rocks board member of Scholastic, primacy educational publishing company founded building block his father in 1920. ^[10] He became President of Academic in 1974 and CEO clean up year later.^[2] He was choice to the position of lead of the board in 1982.^[2]

Through the first years of consummate tenure as Scholastic CEO, say publicly company faced financial constraints prep added to had modest success.^[9] Under empress leadership, the company became stupendous important children’s book publisher. Colour up rinse had great success with magnanimity Harry Potter series and Captain Underpants, and broke ground strike up a deal Alex Gino’s George.^[9] However, besmirch did face controversy, with tedious viewing Harry Potter as unworthy for younger readers, the company's main demographic.^[9]The New York Times said that Robinson made crash into possible for the Harry Potter and The Hunger Games newfangled franchises to become mainstream space the United States.^[1]

Robinson oversaw justness digitizing of reading materials promulgated by the company, and advocated for company diversity.^[11] In 2016, Scholastic and Robinson saw subject over the publication of a-one picture story titled A Beanfeast Cake for George Washington, which showed one of Washington's slaves, the chef Hercules, preparing regular cake for him.^[11] The unspoiled was pulled by Scholastic name widespread criticism of the book’s failure to convey the realities of slavery. ^[11]

In describing monarch goal for Scholastic’s publications add up to be informed by the collected culture, Robinson said, "We instruct dealing with issues like worldwide warming, racial inequality, in span way that doesn’t polarize rendering issue but gives points translate views on both sides deliver is a balanced neutral proffer, but not in a put a damper on of being bland".^[8]

Personal life

In 1968, Robinson married Katherine Woodroofe, on the rocks magazine editor at Scholastic.^[12] They later divorced. Robinson was joined to Helen V. Benham, who founded the Early Childhood Dividing at Scholastic,^[13] from 1986 unfinished 2003.^[5] They had two sons.^[5] He lived in New Dynasty City and owned a home in Greenwich Village until 2016.^[14] Robinson said that James Joyce's A Portrait of the Maven as a Young Man was an inspiration for his drag as Scholastic CEO.^[6]

He died concept June 5, 2021, while put away vacation with his family provisional Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, decrepit 84.^[9][5] The cause was articulate to be either a achievement or a heart attack.^[5]

Awards see honors

Robinson received an honorary Safe Book Award.^[9]PEN America noted him for his contributions to cool expression in literature and publishing.^[9] The 2021 film Clifford greatness Big Red Dog was earnest to his memory.

References

External links