WPCTE John Manear's Commemoration of Richard Robinson, the CEO of Scholastic Publications

I learned today of the death of Richard Robinson, the CEO of Scholastic Publications.  

During my early years teaching, I became involved with NCTE which had always had Scholastic as one of its major promoters.   I was invited to serve as a consultant for one of Scholastic magazine’s publications, Literary Cavalcade.  Once a year, consultants would meet together at the company headquarters in New York.  In 1977, I met Maurice Robinson (known as Robbie) for the first time, as well as his son Richard.  

Robbie had founded Scholastic in Wilkinsburg (Pittsburgh) in 1920 and began publication of the Western Pennsylvania Scholastic magazine.  Shortly after his son Richard was born, the family and the business moved to New York where it continued to develop into the huge enterprise it has become.  Robbie continued his leadership until his retirement when Richard assumed the role of CEO and President of the Board.  During my half dozen years as a consultant, writing the teaching  guides for Literary Cavalcade, I got to know both Robbie and his son quite well.  We always had an opportunity to get together at the annual NCTE convention where Scholastic sponsored a dinner to which all in attendance were invited.  I have attended the convention yearly since 1970.  When WPCTE sponsored the convention here in Pittsburgh in 1993 and again in 2005, Richard joined us when I hosted a reception at my home.

The Scholastic “empire” expanded beyond all expectation when they became the American publisher for Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, Goosebumps, Baby Sitters Club, and Clifford, the Big Red Dog, to name just a few.

Richard was always a committed philanthropist, committing huge resources to various literacy initiatives.  Richard was always one of those friends that I would see only once or twice a year, but for many years.  Friends like that you never forget.