The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING TAMPA'S LOCAL TRAILBLAZER, ROBERT SCOTT, JR., IN HONOR OF
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
______
HON. KATHY CASTOR
of florida
in the house of representatives
Monday, February 28, 2022
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, this Black History Month, I am proud to celebrate local trailblazers who have lifted up our community and those who dedicate their time and talent to preserve local African American heritage. I rise today in immense gratitude of Robert Scott, Jr., a lifetime public servant. Mr. Scott was born in 1954 and it was during an impressionable age when he witnessed segregation, brutality, marches, resisting through nonviolence and the numerous assassinations of national civil rights activists and prominent figures, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, as well as Robert F. and John F. Kennedy. But he also witnessed the change and improvements that emanated. His parents were Robert, an insurance agent and Doris Scott, a school principal. He graduated from Chamberlain High School and then from Bethune Cookman University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He also graduated from the University of South Florida Institute of Government Executive Fellows Program.
Mr. Scott started with the City of Tampa as a personnel analyst and retired after 30 years as Division Manager of its Solid Waste Department in 2010. During his decades of service, he witnessed improvements in leadership and was proud to be part of diversifying leadership within city government. For decades, City of Tampa and Hillsborough County employees supported an annual local MLK tribute through a scholarship fund and downtown march, and Mr. Scott was part of that effort during his tenure at the City of Tampa. He also served on the City of Tampa Black History Committee. He is now the owner of Scott Travel Agency, which specializes in group and cruise travel to all regions of the world. He understands that learning about other cultures provides a better perspective of how to treat people. Mr. Scott was one of the founders that established the MLK Foundation to build a family-friendly parade that started in 2015, fund scholarships for deserving students and honor community heroes that uphold the legacy of Dr. King. Today, the MLK Foundation hosts one of the largest MLK parades in the southeastern United States and engages with businesses, community organizations and entertainment--over the past few years, numerous bands from Historically Black Colleges & Universities have participated in the annual parade. In fact, 2022 was the first time ever that the largest HBCU bands in the country, Florida's own Bethune Cookman University and Florida A&M University, marched together. He hopes Tampa's MLK parade inspires all cities throughout the state to host their own in an effort to unify entire communities.
Mr. Scott has been a member of First Union Missionary Baptist Church for 48 years. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and a 32nd degree Mason. He has served on other boards and committees such as the National Safety Council Executive Board, American Cancer Society, Gasparilla Parade, Super Bowl committee, and is a Certified Manager of the Solid Waste Association of North America. He is married to his beautiful wife, Barbara, and has four children, Michael, Pavonne, Robert III and Jason.
Mr. Scott understands fully how remembering our history, no matter how dark, can be used towards a better future. He also knows that preserving our own heritage is just as important as learning about other heritages from all over the world. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation and Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize the service and leadership of Robert Scott, Jr.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 36
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