Robin Roberts–cohost of Good Morning America–will join a line of notable women in August when she christens the new Goodyear blimp. Several accomplished women before her have also been bestowed with the honor–Sally Ride and Amelia Earhart among them. Roberts has a family legacy with the Goodyear company as well as with the city of Akron, Ohio, where the Goodyear headquarters is located.
“We are honored and delighted to have Robin continue our proud tradition of christening the Goodyear blimp,” said Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer. “In addition to being a supremely talented broadcaster, Robin has a family legacy with Goodyear and Akron. The combination of her personal connection to our city and company, her distinguished professional achievements and charitable works makes Robin an ideal choice to christen our newest icon.”
“This is incredibly meaningful to my family,” Robin said. “My great grandfather moved his family from down south to Akron in 1918 to work for Goodyear. Never could he have imagined that one day one of his descendants would be asked to christen the blimp. I’m very honored.”
Robin Roberts accepted our invitation to christen the newest blimp, Wingfoot One! Details: http://t.co/bP1LBTEx7z
— Goodyear (@GoodyearBlimp) July 24, 2014
Robin Roberts’ history in Akron and Goodyear doesn’t stop there either. In addition to her great grandfather, Roberts’ grandfather, William Tolliver, worked at Goodyear, too. Her late mother, Lucimarian Roberts, was born in Akron and she graduated from East High School–which is located just a few blocks from the Goodyear headquarters. Roberts also has a family connection to aviation through her late father, Lawrence E. Roberts. He served in the United States military for more than 30 years. Col. Roberts was a pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps’ prestigious Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. He later became a flight instructor at the Tuskegee Institute.
That said it’s abundantly clear why Robin Roberts was selected for the honor of christening the new Goodyear blimp. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s (GT) newest blimp–Wingfoot One–will be christened on Saturday, August 23rd, in Suffield, Ohio.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
