PAUL MARTIN ROBINSON

Paul Martin Robinson passed away in peace November 22, 2010, in Venice, Florida. "PR", as he was known to family and friends, was born February 10, 1924, in Enid, Oklahoma, to Faye and Orman Robinson. He was a proud World War II veteran who entered the Navy in 1943 and served on the submarine USS Haddo 225.  He survived depth charges and mine fields during 2 war patrols in the Pacific and was anchored in Tokyo Bay on  Surrender Day September 2, 1945. After his discharge, PR went to work for his mom who owned Rovell's restaurant in Enid, and a career was born.  His formal training began at the University of Chicago in restaurant management.  He built a reputation of success at the Golden Ox.  He teamed with the Gilberts in 1961 to form Gilbert/Robinson (G/R) which developed restaurants across the country.  With the talent and dedication of the many employees,   the company had an explosive 30 year run.  PR always attributed the success of the company to the staff.  PR was the concept and design man who dreamed in color and knew what a restaurant would look like even before the architectural plans were drawn.  The restaurants that bore his signature include: The Inn at the Landing; Plaza III;  100 West; Top of the Tower; Sam Wilson's; Houlihan's; The Bristol; Annie's Santa Fe; Fred  P. Ott's; Fedora; and the Alameda Plaza Hotel.   One of his most successful concepts was Houlihan's Old Place on the Plaza, which was instrumental in changing the way people dined.  Honored by virtually every local and national restaurant association, he set the bar for restaurant standards in service, food quality, and attention to detail. He left his legacy with hundreds of managers and staff who learned the business from PR. He learned to fly while in college in Chicago.  During one flight he managed to walk away unscathed after landing his Cessna in a wheat field after an engine failure.  He had a passion for speed and exotic cars and always had to have a "little extra" under the hood.  He raced his Porsche  from Laguna Seca to Sebring and many tracks in between.  With his son, Randy, he shared the love of auto racing, including the famous Mille Miglia in Italy.  His last race was in 2002, at age 78. Paul and Edna retired to Venice, FL, in 1996, where he continued his design and decorating career; which culminated in a complete remodeling of Venice Golf and Country Club and Stoneybrook Country Club. Paul was a loving husband and father.  He was fiercely loyal to his family, and always had great enthusiasm for their plans and pride in their accomplishments.    PR not only marched to a different drummer . . . he was the drummer.  Truly a Renaissance man, that was our PR. He lived, created, and loved . . . and did it "his way." PR is  survived by  Edna, his love and traveling companion for 36 years; his children, Cathy Cook (Jim); Rob Martin; Randy Robinson (Carol); and Karen Byrom; his  stepchildren, Mary Wheeler (Dan); Liz Shelledy (Steve); and Bill Macomber (Cathy); his sister, Shirley Butts of Taos, NM; his grandchildren: Chad Lantz, Casey Byrom, Katie Byrom, William Wheeler, Liz Wheeler, and Julia Wheeler; and, of course,  his dog, Fluffy.  A special thanks to Mazie, Edna's sister, for her love and support. The family will be holding a private burial at sea. Edna will host a Celebration of  PR's Life in Venice, FL, and in Kansas City, MO, in the future. The family suggests contributions in Paul's memory to Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL  34238 or Suncoast Humane Society, 6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood, FL  34224.