Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 12, 1990 TAG: 9004120639
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Robinson was from Winchester, in the northern tip of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, the same hometown as former Sens. Harry F. Byrd Sr. and Harry F. Byrd Jr.
In many respects, Robinson was much like the Byrds. He was in the fruit-growing business, and his fiscal conservatism and support for a strong military fell firmly within the Byrds' political philosophy. His first political office came in 1965, when he took the state Senate seat made vacant by the younger Byrd's appointment to the U.S. Senate upon the death of the elder Byrd. In 1970, with unofficial Byrd backing, he was elected to succeed John O. Marsh as congressman from the 7th District.
But while Byrd Sr. never shed entirely his Democratic Party affiliation, and Byrd Jr. left the party to become an independent rather than join the GOP, Robinson was a Republican throughout his political career. That career ended in 1984, when he decided for health reasons to retire from Congress rather than seek re-election.
The current boundaries of the Roanoke-based 6th Congressional District include at its northern end portions of what used to be Robinson's 7th District. A closer tie to Southwest Virginia, however, was Robinson's loyalty to Virginia Tech, his alma mater. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, he was instrumental in securing federal support for the establishment of a veterinary school at Tech.
As a congressman, Robinson also was loyal to the House Republican leadership. Though not himself a congressional leader, he won respect for his quiet ways and thoughtful manner, and for his faithful reflection of the views of his constituents.
by CNB