Robert Austin Sullivan, a gay man, was born out of wedlock in Boston, Mass. He was adopted as an infant by a prominent physician and was raised in Belmont, Massachusetts. He was raised a Catholic and was very active in sports throughout his education. He graduated high school in 1965 and attended the University of Miami, where he majored in business management, for four years. While in college he became involved in student government as a journalist for the college newspaper. He also received awards for his leadership and organizational abilities. After college he pursued a career in hotel/restaurant management; his last position was food and beverage manager for a Sheraton property.
In spring 1973, Sullivan was arrested and charged in connection with a murder in the Miami area. Unable to afford private counsel, he accepted a court-appointed attorney. On November 12, 1973 he was convicted and sentenced to death. All direct appeals to the Florida Supreme Court proved fruitless. On November 30, 1983, after ten years of court battles, Robert A. Sullivan died in the electric chair in the state of Florida.
William Wynkoop is a gay man from New York City who heard of and became interested in Sullivan's case. He believes Mr. Sullivan to be innocent.
From the description of Robert A. Sullivan collection, 1975-1985, 1975-1983 (bulk). (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155407695
