5 minute read
Robinson '56 is the Embodiment of Total Effort in Every Endeavor
Written by Adrienne Gale
Johnny Robinson ’56 is the living embodiment of University Laboratory School’s motto “total effort in every endeavor.”
Advertisement
Johnny Robinson '56
An athletic legend and a community change maker, Robinson enjoyed national recognition for his life’s work this year with two distinguished honors – induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame and selection as the recipient of the 2019 PwC Doak Walker Legends Award, presented to former NCAA football players who have demonstrated a record of leadership and good citizenship throughout their lives.
While at U-High, Robinson was an all-state football, tennis and basketball player and a national boys junior tennis champion along with his older brother Tommy. Upon his graduation, he committed to play football and tennis at LSU where his father Dub Robinson was the long-time tennis coach. An integral part of LSU’s 1958 national title team, Robinson also won the SEC tennis championship in singles and the SEC doubles championship, again with his brother, while at LSU.
Johnny Robinson player card
After retiring from the NFL, Robinson enjoyed a productive career as a stockbroker. Then, in 1980 he became an associate pastor of a local church and learned the plight of a young boy that was in juvenile prison. A judge granted the boy’s custody to him. At that moment he knew he had found his true calling. In short order, he opened the Johnny Robinson Home for Boys as an alternative for abused, neglected and troubled youth. For the past 39 years, Robinson has overseen what has grown to a seven-building campus featuring an indoor gym, a cafeteria and an educational building.
Robinson was the first-round draft selection of both the AFL’s Dallas Texans and the NFL’s Detroit Lions in 1960. He signed with the Texans and remained with the team even as they moved to Kansas City to become the Chiefs. Throughout his 12 seasons, he helped his team earn four division titles, played in three AFL championship game victories and started in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl IV during which he competed with three broken ribs but still managed to record a fumble recovery and an interception that galvanized the Chiefs' 23-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Robinson was named All-AFL for five seasons beginning in 1965, All-Pro in 1969 and All-NFL in 1970. He was voted an AFL All-Star and All Pro selection seven times. He was the only player in history to lead both the AFL and NFL in interceptions, and prior to being selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was named an AFL All- Time Team member, Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Combined AFL/NFL All-Decade Team 1960s and was selected to the University Laboratory School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Robinson joins an impressive list of past Doak Walker Legend recipients, including most recently Johnny Majors, Herschel Walker, Barry Sanders and Bo Jackson.
Johnny Robinson is recognized at a LSU football game
“Mentors like coaches J.Q. Long and Vane Wilson played a big part (in my life), along with lifelong friends such as George O’Neal, Prince Young and Jimmy Field. U-High is where I planted the seeds for success, and I will never forget that. University High equipped me for success in life,” said Robinson.
