James C. Robinson

Tributes~James C. Robinson

James C. Robinson
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Date of Birth: 
July 19 1922
Date of Death: 
May 28 2017

James C. Robinson, Jim, passed away May 28, 2017. Born on July 19, 1922, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, his family moved to Orlando in 1925 in answer to a note to Jim's dad, J C Robinson, from a friend who had moved to Orlando in 1926; "come on down to the promised land". Jim attended Hillcrest, Delaney, Cherokee Jr. High and Orlando High School. In the summer of 1939, he was invited by Betty Thornton to go on a boat trip with her and her friends. It was the beginning of a long relationship.

Jim and Betty graduated from Orlando High in 1940. Jim was President of the class and Betty was Secretary. They were both selected "Most likely to succeed" by their class mates. Jim attended the University of Florida where he became a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and Florida Blue Key, and Jim and Betty married February 4, 1944.

He served as an officer when his Field Artillery Battalion was sent to Europe to replace the severe losses during the Battle of the Bulge.

He returned to Gainesville in 1946 from Germany to finish law school. After graduating in 1948, Jim returned to Orlando and was associated in the practice of law with LeRoy Giles. Jim's career was active and varied. He practiced real estate law and later served as Orange County attorney, in which position he negotiated with Walt Disney and was involved in other important happenings in the 1950s and 1960s. He served as attorney for the Orlando International Airport during the planning and construction of the terminal.

Jim was proud to have been able to take a leadership role in establishing the University of Central Florida, from which he received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service. In 1992, Dr. Charles Millican, President of UCF, issued a resolution citing Jim Robinson as Visionary Extraordinaire. Dr. Trevor Colbourn said, "If anyone could be called the father of UCF it would be Jim Robinson." Raymer Maguire, founder of Valencia College, said, "Every time I think of UCF I thank Jim Robinson; without him we wouldn't have it."

Jim had a long record of activities which contributed to the community, and to the Presbyterian Church (USA) both nationally and locally. Jim and Betty have three children: Elizabeth Barnes and her husband Robert and their daughter Lauren; James Carson Robinson, Jr. and his wife Teri; Richard Robinson and his wife Francoise Joseph du Busquiel, their two children: James whose wife is Sassja and children are Quentin and Jude; and daughter Julie Robinson.

The family is grateful to the Granny Nannies for their loving care and for Vitas Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Christian Service Center, 808 W. Central Blvd. Orlando, FL. 32805 or Westminster Retirement Communities Benevolence Fund. Memo line: WTO for BA. 80 W. Lucerne Cir. Orlando, FL. 32801.

On July 8th at 11:00 Orlando Presbyterian Church will hold a memorial service with a reception following at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1655 Peel Ave. Orlando, FL. 32806.

Published in the Orlando Sentinel

Place of Birth: 
Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States
Place of Death: 
Orlando, Florida, United States
Primary State of Residence: 
Orlando, Florida, United States

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