HOUSE MEMORIAL 43

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

W. Ken Martinez

A MEMORIAL

HONORING CHARLES AND MARA ROBINSON FOR THEIR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY LIFE OF NEW MEXICO, ESPECIALLY THEIR SUPPORT OF ARTS AND EDUCATION, AND RECOGNIZING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THEM AS NEW MEXICO LIVING TREASURES.

     WHEREAS, Charles and Mara Robinson, ages ninety-four and eighty-four, respectively, were married following Mr. Robinson's return from naval service in World War II; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson served as an engineering officer on the USS Tuscaloosa, which participated in the Normandy invasion, and in the Pacific theater at Iwo Jima and Okinawa; and

     WHEREAS, following his military service, Mr. Robinson began a career in international business, including the founding of the Marcona corporation, a mining concern in Peru; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson, a former opera singer, founded the Opera-West company in San Francisco in the 1950s, beginning the couple's many years of support for the performing arts; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson was awarded a master's degree in liberal arts from St. John's college in 1983 and eventually became a trustee of the college; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson acted as a "talent scout" for the Santa Fe opera and served as an advisory council member of the Santa Fe chamber music festival; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson was a founding member of the New Mexico school for the arts; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson's business experience resulted in a diplomatic appointment by then-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as undersecretary for economic affairs during President Gerald Ford's administration; and

     WHEREAS, within six months, Mr. Robinson became deputy secretary of the state department; and

     WHEREAS, following his diplomatic career, the Robinsons moved to New York City, where Mr. Robinson became an investment banker, and at the same time began developing property in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson served on the board of directors for the Nike corporation for thirty-three years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson spent the last two-and-a-half decades revolutionizing boat technology; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson received New Mexico's first visionary designer lifetime achievement award in 2007 and the United States department of state distinguished honor award in 1977; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson received the Santa Fe mayor's award in 2009 for their support of the arts in Santa Fe; and

     WHEREAS, since relocating permanently in Santa Fe in 1978, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have given generously of their time, resources and energy to support the arts and education in the community and state;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it honor Charles and Mara Robinson for their many years of commitment to the quality of life in New Mexico, particularly their support of young New Mexico artists; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Charles and Mara Robinson be recognized and acknowledged as New Mexico living treasures; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to Charles and Mara Robinson and their three children, Heather Lynne Robinson, Lisa Ann Robinson and Wendy Paige Robinson.

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