Hugh G. Robinson

ROBINSON Maj. Gen. HUGH G. ROBINSON (Ret.) (Age 77) Died on March 1, 2010 in DeSoto, TX. He was born August 4, 1932 in Washington, DC to Col. (Ret.) James H. Robinson and Wilhelmina T. Robinson, both deceased. Hugh graduated from Dunbar High School in Washington, DC and was a 1954 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where he achieved the distinction of the first black regimental commander. Gen. Robinson''s military career spanned from 1954 to 1982. He served in Korea with the Corps of Engineers and after his tour in Korea held several Army staff positions in the United States and France. He returned from France and worked for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at the Pentagon. In 1965, he was appointed the Army Military Aide to President Lyndon B. Johnson and was the first African American to serve in that position. He held the appointment throughout the remainder of Johnson''s presidency. Following his White House assignment, he served in Vietnam and received an Air Medal, a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit and an Army Commendation Medal. In 1978, Hugh was promoted to Brigadier General becoming the Corps of Engineers'' first African American general officer. Two years later, in 1980, he was promoted to Major General and assumed command of the Corps of Engineers'' Southwestern Division, overseeing a myriad of engineering projects in one of the largest areas of responsibility for the Corps in the United States. After Hugh''s military retirement, he joined The Southland Corporation as a corporate Vice President. He was then made President of Southland''s City Place Development Corporation and oversaw construction of the corporation''s huge new office complex in Dallas. From 1989 through 2002, Maj. Gen. Robinson served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Tetra Group Inc. and served seven years as vice chairman and then chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He served on many boards and was deeply involved in civic affairs. Countless memories will be treasured by his son, Col. Hugh G. Robinson, Jr., (Ret.) and his wife, Kim; his daughter, Susan Robinson Wells and her husband, Art and her daughter, Ashley; Hugh and Susan''s mother, Karen W. Robinson; his sister, Leonora Robinson Fay and her husband, David; step-daughter, Mia Lane; long-time friend and business partner, Ken Blow; administrative assistant of 15 years, Sandy Garcia and a host of family and friends. Interment will be held at a later date. Interment will be held at a later date.