State Sen. Rusty Crowe recognized longtime Elizabethton Star Publisher Frank Robinson Friday morning for his work establishing the downtown Elizabethton War Memorial and Walk of Honor.
Crowe presented the Elizabethton Star and the Robinson family with a state Senate proclamation recognizing Robinson.
“Projects like these are so hard to get started,” Crowe said. “There is fundraising, meetings, organizing support and donations. Anytime the (War Memorial) committee had a concern, Frank was there to help.”
Crowe said Robinson cared about preserving the history and traditions of the community for the younger generations, such as the North American Rayon steam engine that he had restored and located at the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce.
“What’s important is what people remember about a person, their legacy left to the community,” Crowe said. “Frank left a great legacy to the community.”
Carol Goodwin, Robinson’s daughter, said her father would have been honored by the recognition.
“It would have meant a lot to him,” Goodwin said. “Things in the community mattered to him, and he worked hard. He was always busy working.”
Goodwin recalled one time when her father was in the hospital and during his stay he still worked on projects for the memorial.
“He was concerned about getting this done,” she said. “This is what mattered to him.”
Crowe also donated new flags to be displayed at the memorials.