W. Wright ROBINSON

W. Wright Robinson W. Wright Robinson, of Seaford, DE died Wednesday, December 11 at his home in Seaford. He was 95. Mr. Robinson was the former owner and editor of The Leader in Seaford. Born and raised across the street from the Seaford News, Mr. Robinson got his start at that newspaper. He served as editor of Seaford High School's student newspaper, The Nanticoke Powwow, in his senior year, 1926, and later worked on the University of Delaware's newspaper, The Review. In 1930, Toby Thompson asked Mr. Robinson to start a newspaper in Seaford, the Delmarva Leader. Mr. Robinson left and went to the competitor, the Seaford News, later that year. For a short time in the 1930's, Mr. Robinson left journalism and went to help his father in the family's shirt factory. He purchased The Leader in 1934. He handled printing jobs for the DuPont Co. and later purchased the Seaford News during World War II. As an editor, Mr. Robinson championed progress, calling for a Seaford power plant in the 1930's. The plant saved city taxpayers millions and led to the development of the DuPont Co. nylon plant in 1939. He pitched the idea of "right turn on red" in The Leader and convinced city leaders in 1939 to try it after noticing DuPont employees in traffic backups at High and Market streets. In 1964, Mr. Robinson sold The Leader to Chesapeake Publishing and later returned to work there as editor until 1967. Since that time, he had been a columnist and editor emeritus for the newspaper. In 1996, the newspaper was sold to independent Newspapers, Inc. and Mr. Robinson remained a weekly columnist, recounting many historical and personal stories in his column, "Reflections." His last column appeared in the Dec. 4 edition of The Leader & State Register. In 1998, Mr. Robinson was inducted into the Maryland-Delaware D.C. Press Association Hall of Fame. Mr. Robinson was a noted historian and author, writing a book on the history of Seaford in the 1930's and contributing to the pictorial history, "Images of American: Seaford, Delaware," published in 2000. The Seaford Museum houses a bronze bust of Mr. Robinson and salutes him as "Seaford's most distinguished citizen." He played trombone in the musical group, the Grandpa Jammers for more than a decade. He was a graduate of Seaford High School and attended for 3 years the University of Delaware where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity. He was a founding member of the Unitarian Fellowship in Salisbury, MD and was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Easton in MD. He was a recipient of the Josiah Marvel Award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, he was a charter member of the Seaford Lions Club and an honorary Girls Scout, having been instrumental in forming a Girl Scout camp and 1 year selling the most Girl Scout cookies in the community. He was born in Seaford, son of the late Charles and Mabel Wright Robinson. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Suzanna R. and George Bramhall of Seaford; his daughter, Penny Comorat of Milford; his brother, David C. Robinson of Seaford; his nephew, the Rev. David C. "Chip" Robinson, Jr., of Milford, NH; his niece, Kay Bennett of Seaford; a dear friend, Louise Williamson; his grandchildren, Rick Holt, II of Camden, TN, Stephanie Smith of King of Prussia, PA, Dawn Diamond of Douglasville, PA and Steve Comorat of Lancaster, KY; and 6 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Pearl Townsend Robinson in 1971 and his second wife, Nora Marvel Robinson, in December 2002. Friends may call from 6-8 pm on Sunday, December 14 at the WATSON-YATES FUNERAL HOME, Front and King Streets, Seaford. The service will be held 9:30 am on Monday, December 15, in Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, High Street, Seaford, DE. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Seaford. Contributions may be made to a charity of your choice. Flowers are welcome.