Myrtle Beach-- David E Robinson, formerly of Lancaster, SC, died at his home Thursday, January 16, 2014.
Born in Lancaster, SC, on October 5, 1934, he was a son of Aaron Andrew Robinson and Myrtle (McManus) Robinson Vick. Mr. Robinson retired after 34 years of working within the South Carolina Public School System. During his time, he worked as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal.
His real love in life was the young people that he taught and coached.
Survivors include his wife Mary Surplice Robinson, a son, five daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, brother, Charles A Robinson, and sister, Joanne Smith.
David married:
1. Friedel L. Messerschmidt on Aug. 9, 1959
2. Mary Surplice June 12, 1970
David lived at Connie Maxwell Children's Home from 1943-1952.
————
Coach Robinson touched many lives in his career
I could tell by her tone as I retrieved my office voice mail last Friday afternoon that the news wasn't good.
The caller was Karen Hough, the daughter of David Robinson, who died Thursday at his Myrtle Beach home. Karen called me Friday afternoon to tell me about coach Robinson's passing.
Karen, over the years, has kept me informed of coach Robinson. One of the last times we talked was last fall and she told me he was battling against the impact of a recent stroke.
Coach Robinson dedicated 34 years of his 79 years with us as a teacher, coach and school administrator.
I recall him as a teacher and coach at North Junior High when the school, now an elementary school, first opened in the mid-1960s. He had a wiry build, but there was never any doubt about who was in charge. Tough, but fair would be an apt description of coach Robinson.
When I began as a reporter at The News in 1977, coach Robinson was the principal at Buford High School. He was still molding young people the same way he guided me and many others in our formative years.
Coach Robinson had quite a career in Lancaster County, going back to his days as an assistant football coach and head baseball coach in the storied Blue Hurricanes' era.
He also coached Legion baseball with the Lancaster Post 31 program.
During that time, as one would expect, he touched plenty of lives.
Back in the 1970s, he gave an aspiring young teacher and coach he knew as a P-31 player a chance to make difference in young peoples' lives.
Bennie McMurray, who retired last month as the Lancaster High School head football coach, got his start under Robinson some 38 years ago.
At that time, Buford didn't have a baseball program, but with McMurray's hiring as a teacher and assistant football coach, Robinson knew McMurray would be a quality pick to guide the Jackets on the diamond.
He knew what he was doing as McMurray built Buford into a Class A baseball power on the way to a hall of fame coaching career at Buford, Lewisville, E.E. Waddell in Charlotte and Lancaster High schools.
Robinson had a solid link to baseball as his father, the late Aaron Robinson, caught in the big league with the Yankees, White Sox, Tigers and Red Sox. He let the knowledge gained under his father's hand make a difference.
On Sunday at church, Bucky Hardin recalled coach Robinson's impact on him as a high school baseball player at Lancaster.
Hardin said coach Robinson was later a key influence in him pursuing a career in coaching and teaching. Bucky taught and coached at Indian Land High School where he played a key role in the development of the Lady Warriors' softball program. Bucky followed a similar path Robinson had followed as he moved into school administration after a stint as a teacher and coach.
Coach Robinson had a direct influence on me. As my physical education teacher at North Junior High, he urged me to play Pony League baseball where the program, at that time, called home at Buckelew Park.
Ironically, just the other day, the Lancaster County Parks and Recreation officials announced it would again be playing T-ball games at Buckelew Park.
Coach Robinson, through his work with the Pony League baseball program at Buekelew Park, likely had a hand in the park's early development. It was always great to see an old facility get a new life.
Buckelew Park is where I capped my baseball career as a member of the Jaycees in the old Pony League. I enjoyed my two years in the program, but what I learned the most from those days at east Lancaster youth baseball facility was how to keep score and read a scorebook.
It's a key part of my job. Each time I do it now, I'll think about coach Robinson because he knew that baseball program would have a lasting impact on me long after my days on the field.
Seems like that was true for coach McMurray and Bucky and many, many others.
We're all grateful for coach Robinson. He hung up his whistle and coaches cap a long time ago, but he still has a hand on us.
His obit said it well, noting "his true love in life was the young people that he taught and coached."
A tip of the cap to coach Robinson is most deserving.
(from The Lancaster News, on Weds., Jan. 22, 2014 in Sports Talk by Robert Howey)
Myrtle Beach-- David E Robinson, formerly of Lancaster, SC, died at his home Thursday, January 16, 2014.
Born in Lancaster, SC, on October 5, 1934, he was a son of Aaron Andrew Robinson and Myrtle (McManus) Robinson Vick. Mr. Robinson retired after 34 years of working within the South Carolina Public School System. During his time, he worked as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal.
His real love in life was the young people that he taught and coached.
Survivors include his wife Mary Surplice Robinson, a son, five daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, brother, Charles A Robinson, and sister, Joanne Smith.
David married:
1. Friedel L. Messerschmidt on Aug. 9, 1959
2. Mary Surplice June 12, 1970
David lived at Connie Maxwell Children's Home from 1943-1952.
————
Coach Robinson touched many lives in his career
I could tell by her tone as I retrieved my office voice mail last Friday afternoon that the news wasn't good.
The caller was Karen Hough, the daughter of David Robinson, who died Thursday at his Myrtle Beach home. Karen called me Friday afternoon to tell me about coach Robinson's passing.
Karen, over the years, has kept me informed of coach Robinson. One of the last times we talked was last fall and she told me he was battling against the impact of a recent stroke.
Coach Robinson dedicated 34 years of his 79 years with us as a teacher, coach and school administrator.
I recall him as a teacher and coach at North Junior High when the school, now an elementary school, first opened in the mid-1960s. He had a wiry build, but there was never any doubt about who was in charge. Tough, but fair would be an apt description of coach Robinson.
When I began as a reporter at The News in 1977, coach Robinson was the principal at Buford High School. He was still molding young people the same way he guided me and many others in our formative years.
Coach Robinson had quite a career in Lancaster County, going back to his days as an assistant football coach and head baseball coach in the storied Blue Hurricanes' era.
He also coached Legion baseball with the Lancaster Post 31 program.
During that time, as one would expect, he touched plenty of lives.
Back in the 1970s, he gave an aspiring young teacher and coach he knew as a P-31 player a chance to make difference in young peoples' lives.
Bennie McMurray, who retired last month as the Lancaster High School head football coach, got his start under Robinson some 38 years ago.
At that time, Buford didn't have a baseball program, but with McMurray's hiring as a teacher and assistant football coach, Robinson knew McMurray would be a quality pick to guide the Jackets on the diamond.
He knew what he was doing as McMurray built Buford into a Class A baseball power on the way to a hall of fame coaching career at Buford, Lewisville, E.E. Waddell in Charlotte and Lancaster High schools.
Robinson had a solid link to baseball as his father, the late Aaron Robinson, caught in the big league with the Yankees, White Sox, Tigers and Red Sox. He let the knowledge gained under his father's hand make a difference.
On Sunday at church, Bucky Hardin recalled coach Robinson's impact on him as a high school baseball player at Lancaster.
Hardin said coach Robinson was later a key influence in him pursuing a career in coaching and teaching. Bucky taught and coached at Indian Land High School where he played a key role in the development of the Lady Warriors' softball program. Bucky followed a similar path Robinson had followed as he moved into school administration after a stint as a teacher and coach.
Coach Robinson had a direct influence on me. As my physical education teacher at North Junior High, he urged me to play Pony League baseball where the program, at that time, called home at Buckelew Park.
Ironically, just the other day, the Lancaster County Parks and Recreation officials announced it would again be playing T-ball games at Buckelew Park.
Coach Robinson, through his work with the Pony League baseball program at Buekelew Park, likely had a hand in the park's early development. It was always great to see an old facility get a new life.
Buckelew Park is where I capped my baseball career as a member of the Jaycees in the old Pony League. I enjoyed my two years in the program, but what I learned the most from those days at east Lancaster youth baseball facility was how to keep score and read a scorebook.
It's a key part of my job. Each time I do it now, I'll think about coach Robinson because he knew that baseball program would have a lasting impact on me long after my days on the field.
Seems like that was true for coach McMurray and Bucky and many, many others.
We're all grateful for coach Robinson. He hung up his whistle and coaches cap a long time ago, but he still has a hand on us.
His obit said it well, noting "his true love in life was the young people that he taught and coached."
A tip of the cap to coach Robinson is most deserving.
(from The Lancaster News, on Weds., Jan. 22, 2014 in Sports Talk by Robert Howey)
