Robinson, Frank H. (Frank Hamlet), 1904-1979

Frank Hamlet Robinson (b. 1904, Everett, Wash.-d. May 24, 1979), U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from flying school and received his commission in the Air Corps in 1927. In 1934 he joined the 25th Bomb Squadron in the Panama Canal Zone, and later was assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron and commanded the 52nd Bomb Squadron and 29th Bomb Group. He served as commander, 44th Bomb Group in England early in World War II, and for the remainder of the war years was assigned to various positions in the U.S., including liaison officer, 2nd Air Force; air inspector for the Eastern Flying Training Command; and base commander. In 1947 he became chief of staff of the 1st Air Division on Okinawa, and in 1949 served as inspector general, Far East Air Forces, in Tokyo, Japan. During the 1950s, General Robinson acted as inspector general, vice commander, and chief of staff on several bases of the Air Training Command. He retired in 1958.

From the description of Robinson, Frank H. (Frank Hamlet), 1904-1979 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10600723

African-American educator, school superintendent, and community leader, Frank J. Robinson became active in the civil rights movement in his native East Texas during the late 1960s. His efforts were mainly in the areas of voter registration and redistricting to provide elective representation to African-Americans.

His wife Dorothy Redus Robinson, a retired elementary and special education teacher and school principal, championed special education issues on the local and state levels. Frank Robinson's death from a gunshot wound in 1976 was widely reported in the media throughout the state, causing much speculation, acrimony, and outrage. Although it was ruled a suicide, many people believed it was homicide.

From the description of Robinson, Frank J. and Dorothy Redus, papers, 1970-1980. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 33233254