Serving the Senate
WHEN ROBERT Gomez was hired as a press operator for the Texas Senate in 1974, the in-plant was housed in the basement of the state capitol building. It was staffed by a supervisor, a secretary and three production employees. Layout involved mat boards, wax machines and spray adhesives, and hand-developed film was stripped up on light tables.
Thirty-three years later, Gomez—who was appointed director of senate publications and printing in 1985—oversees 20 staff members in a facility that occupies more than 20,000 square feet.
The journey along his career path began when Gomez was just a kid growing up in Austin, Texas, where most of his family has lived for generations. His life’s work has essentially been the fulfillment of childhood dreams.
As an eighth-grader, he got a general introduction to printing from one of his teachers, who was preparing to teach the topic at a local vocational school. Gomez then went on to attend the Albert Sidney Johnston High School.
“It was one of the only high schools offering printing as a vocational course. I enrolled and took half-day courses, and learned about printing for the next four years,” he says.
In his junior year, he took a job for the local newspaper, The Austin American-Statesman, operating a scan engraver to produce photos for the daily publication.
“I graduated from high school in 1969 and have worked in the printing industry ever since,” he comments.
John Roberts Inc.—an internationally known Austin-based jeweler famous for its school rings and those worn by Super Bowl champs—was his first stop.
“I worked in the printing and awards department as an engraver, using metals, such as brass, copper and nickel silver, to create awards mounted onto walnut boards and memory boxes,” Gomez reminisces.
By then the Vietnam War was under way, and Uncle Sam was looking for a few good men.
“I joined the United States Marine Corps reserve unit from Austin, and was sent to boot camp in November of 1970,” he explains. “I went through boot camp at the recruit depot in San Diego, and then to Camp Pendleton to finish my infantry training.” Gomez completed his reserve duty in 1976, and was able to again devote all of his energy to his printing career. Two years earlier, while still a reservist, he had taken the position with the Texas Senate, which proved to be the right place at an opportune time.
The Evolution of a Print Shop
Over the years, Gomez has witnessed the evolution from IBM magcard composers, VariTyper headliner 820 photo composers and small duplicators with electrostatic plates to computers and sophisticated software.
“Some of the work done on the small duplicators is now printed on digital high-speed copiers, with collating and inline booklet-making features,” reports Gomez. “CTP technology has eliminated the darkrooms and enterprise estimating software systems eliminated the three-ring binders. What a difference it makes.”
To cut costs and speed up turn times, Gomez introduced the Senate to Heidelberg equipment in 1990, purchasing the facility’s “first real printing press”—a 25? two-color MOZP perfector for the production of senatorial district-wide newsletters and four-color process work. Gomez calls this one of his biggest accomplishments.
Gomez appreciates the strong support his department receives, and the fact that he has been able to significantly expand production capabilities during his tenure, and relocate into a new facility five years ago. His department produces work for the lieutenant governor’s staff and 31 senators, and there are times, says Gomez, when newsletters alone generate millions of impressions a month.
He’s also grateful for his membership in the National Government Publishing Association, where the exchange of ideas and equipment information, has been valuable. In fact, Gomez cohosted the 31st annual NGPA conference earlier this month at the Sheraton Austin Hotel.
Gomez and his wife, Dolores, are soon to celebrate a 38-year marriage, which has blessed them with three daughters—Lori, Veronica and Rhonda—and seven grandchildren. Though family camping trips and softball games aren’t as big a part of his life as they used to be, Gomez still enjoys the outdoors in other ways.
“Now, I just keep up with my house, clean my vehicles and enjoy my yard work,” he states. Gomez takes particular pride in maintaining his well manicured lawn—which just may be the inspiration for his recent decision to learn to play golf.IPG
