William P. Robinson Sr., Ph.D.

1993 Honoree

Dr. William P. Robinson, Sr. was born in 1911 in Norfolk, Virginia, during the era of rampant segregation. He strongly believed that education was the key to freedom and equality, and unselfishly devoted his life to pursuing those goals.

His defining moment occurred at Howard University, when Dr. Ralph Bunche become his mentor and teacher. Robinson was so inspired that he changed his major from botany to political science. After earning bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from Howard, Robinson obtained a doctorate from New York University.

He subsequently held teaching and administrative positions at Mores Brown College, Texas Southern University and Alcorn College. Robinson returned home to Virginia in 1963, when he accepted the chairmanship of Norfolk State College's political science department.

Robinson soon sought election to the Virginia House of Delegates. His first attempt in 1965 failed, but in 1969, he became Norfolk's first black American legislator since Reconstruction.

Robinson become an effective lawmaker. He was instrumental in passing o bill that equalized retirement pay for black teachers. Until this bill became law, black teachers in Virginia received only half the retirement pay received by white teachers. This strong man was also a potent force in creating a fair housing law.

Once, when asked for his advice to school children visiting the state capitol, Robinson said, "work hard and dream high." These words ore a fitting epitaph for this good and great man, who died in 1981.