John Robbins' Obituary
John Clinton Robbins was born February 10,1935 to joyous parents, Mary Lee Donaghey Robbins and John Cyril Robbins Jr. of Longview, Texas. John was an active boy who made friends easily, loved the outdoors, and the joy of Cherokee Lake. He especially loved the company of his two sisters, Betty and Dorothy Robbins as they rode horses, played with their dogs, and relished the community of Longview. John remained close to his sisters all the days of his life. Upon graduation from Longview High School, John attended East Texas State University at Commerce for two years and then entered the University of Houston his Sophomore year, where he was elected pledge chairman for his fraternity and graduated in the top 40 of a class of 850 students in Business Administration.
John returned to Longview where he joined his father in the oil business, Robbins Petroleum Corporation, a family-owned business his father founded in the 1930s. At the age of 21, his father gave him full responsibility for the business while his parents were away on an overseas trip. During this time, he showed himself to have wisdom beyond his years and an acumen for geology, a lifelong passion. Soon after his father gave him full reigns of the oil business, where he became President of Robbins Petroleum Corporation. Under his leadership, the company flourished from small beginnings of a small staff of 1 to over 100 employees with hundreds of wells pumping at any given time. Soon Robbins was in the top 20 oil producers in the state of Texas. He was recognized by his peers as they placed him in numerous leadership roles. He was a Director of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association and the Independent Petroleum Association of America. He was named by Governor Clements to the Interstate Oil Commission. He also served as Director and Chairman of First Federal Savings Bank of Longview, Director of First National Bank of Longview, and served on the Executive and Finance Committees. Hiram Harris of the Loan Committee said “John Robbins is one of the finest and sharpest minds of anyone he knew.” Above all John Robbins was known for his integrity. One of his oil partners said, “John Robbins is one of the rare individuals whose word was as good as his handshake.” This is what led him to be able to stay in the oil business all the days of his life. He was still being asked to participate in wells into his late 80s.
John Robbins life is defined by the word “spirit.” He received the Spirit of Longview Award from the mayor and the Spirit of Trinity Church Award (in his 90th year of life).
John Robbins gave tirelessly to his community and his church. Robbins served as Director of Longview United Way leading their budget committee, Director of Trinity School of Texas, Community Advisor for the Junior Service League of Longview, Trustee for Good Shepherd Medical Center, member of the Highway Committee for the Longview Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of Cherokee Water Company, Associate Member of the McDonald Observatory and Astronomy Board of Visitors with the University of Texas, Vice-President of the University of Texas Longview Campus and member of Development Board of the University of Texas of Tyler, Chapter Honoree of Beta Gamma Sigma at University of Texas Tyler, Director of the East Texas Treatment Center, and was given the Longview Bank and Trust “People Who Make a Difference in Longview” award.
John Robbins was also active in politics and cared about who led the East Texas area. Robbins was Co-chairman of United States Senator Phil Gramm’s successful Senate race. He flew Senator Gramm and numerous political leaders around the state of Texas in his airplane. In 1991, then Mayor of Longview, Martha Whitehead, named Robbins the President of LEDCO (Longview Economic Development Corporation), which put Longview on the map as a place for business development and to provide the highest level of job opportunities and quality of life for Longview citizens. Longview soon became established as a premiere manufacturing hub in East Texas. Robbins worked tirelessly to make Longview what it is today.
John was a man of abiding faith. He was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Longview all his days. He served as Senior Warden of the vestry, chairman of the church finance committee, co-chairman of advanced gifts, and a member of the building fund. From 1981- 1985, Robbins spearheaded the building of the new beautiful church which all enjoy today. At the consecration of the new Trinity Church, a letter was read to John Robbins from President Ronald Reagan thanking him for his contribution to his church, community, and country. John Robbins was a generous philanthropist to his community. We will never know the full extent of what he gave because he always gave anonymously, noting that was “the true spirit of giving.” Each year a huge Christmas tree was lit at Magrill Park and Mr. Robbins donated the funds for this effort anonymously.
John was a faithful friend with a zest for life. He had numerous hobbies from scuba diving to flying his airplane even into his 70s to astronomy. He especially loved hunting with son Dan and grandson Hunter as well as the men of the Rocks Creek Hunting Club. He loved laughing and telling stories. John Robbins loved life. He is best known for his exuberant positivity which never ebbed even in tough times. He used to always say, “when going gets tough, the tough get going.” He saw the best in everyone and had a persevering can do spirit.
Above all, John Robbins loved his family. He loved his four daughters Lynn Robbins, Susie Dickson, Gail Murphy, and Beverly Ann Robbins. He cherished the love of his life, Janna Lou (d.1998) and his children, The Rev. Canon Carrie Headington and Congressman Dan Boren, and their spouses Andrea Boren and Greg Headington and his beloved grandchildren Janna Lou Boren, Hunter Daniel Boren, Mary Lee Dickson and Austin Dickson. He was the loving patriarch to the entire Robbins, Kennedy, and Davis families.
We will miss his abounding joy, zest for life, unceasing kindness, and unconditional love. He was and forever will be our protector, our champion, and our heart. John Robbins died peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 20 surrounded by his loving family. He lived in resurrection hope and entered into life eternal on resurrection day.
Visitation will be Wednesday, April 23 at Rader Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
Funeral services for John Robbins will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, April 24th, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Longview, Texas with a reception to follow at the church. The burial service will be held at 2:00 PM at Memory Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Trinity Episcopal Church, in memory of John C. Robbins, 906 Padon Street, Longview, Texas 75601.
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