Edwin Robertson

HARROGATE, Tenn. — Dr. Edwin Glenn Robertson, age 65, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday, July 29th, 2014. He died suddenly at his home.

He was born February 8, 1949 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was a 1967 graduate of Powell Valley High School where he was a member of Future Farmers of America, the Tennessee State FFA Vice-President, and received the American Farmer Award in 1968. He attended Lincoln Memorial University, and The University of Tennessee where he was a member of the Menʼs Basketball Team in 1967-68.

He graduated Auburn University in 1974, where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. He served as President of his Veterinary Class in 1971, ʼ72, ʼ73 and was a member of Alpha Psi Professional Fraternity.

After graduation from Veterinary School, He opened Harrogate Hospital for Animals, and in 1977 he began practicing embryo transfer in the southeastern United States and in many foreign countries. He founded Harrogate Genetics, International, in 1989.

Since 1977, he has collected over 28,000 donors, transferred over 119,000 embryos and frozen over 86,000 embryos. He did Veterinary Preceptorships for countless Veterinary students from various Universities across the Nation and Foreign Countries. He was the first recipient of the "El Torro" Award from Auburn University for mentorship of Veterinary Students. In 1985 he organized and developed the Veterinary Technician Program at Lincoln Memorial University, where he served as Director until 1987. He served on the American Veterinary Medical Association Manpower Committee from 1982-1985.

He coordinated numerous teaching seminars for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners from 1980-2013 and in 1993 was named the AABP "Bovine Practitioner of the Year", and also received the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association "Outstanding Practitioner Award". He served on the AABP committee on Embryo labeling and identification.

Dr. Robertson was a member and served on the Board of Directors of the American Embryo Transfer Association and was the 1989-90 President of AETA. He served on the Board for Society of Theriogenology from 1986-1992 and was President from 1991-1992.

He was a member and served on the Staff of Pump Springs Baptist Church, where he faithfully taught and led the Real Life Sunday School Class, helped organize Celebrate Recovery, the Claiborne Refuge House, and the Jail Ministry.

He was Former Director of Cumberland Gap Baptist Youth Fellowship, was the Tri-State Area Crusade For Christ Director, served on the Board of Directors of Student Leadership University, Board Member of First Priority of the Tri-States, organized Tri-State Youth Choir, Chairman of the Board of Commercial Bank, Vice-President of Harrogate Insurance Agency, Powell Valley Electric Co-op Board Member since 1985, J. Frank White Academy Advisory Council, and Lincoln Memorial University Board of Trustees since 1994. He has been in the Restaurant Business with his family since 1982.

He was extremely involved in his beloved community where he was instrumental in helping with the incorporation of the City of Harrogate. He was Chairman of the Harrogate Tree Board which helped develop the greenway that runs throughout the City.

His most recent endeavor was helping establish and serving as CEO of Servolution Health Services, a free medical and dental clinic for the uninsured of the Tri-State Area. He was a devoted, loving, Husband, Father, and Grandfather, who loved and cared for all his family. He was preceded in death by his Father, Edwin Oscar Robertson, and his Mother, Althea M. Robertson.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Judy Thompson Robertson, his son, John Adam Robertson (Cindi) of Speedwell, Tennessee, daughter, Emily Robertson King (John) of Harrogate. Brother, Craig Eric Robertson (Sherri) of Speedwell, Tennessee. Step-mother, Alice Robertson Overton, Speedwell, Tennessee. Special cousins, Mike Robertson (Jean Ann) of Harrogate, Judy Huskey Balkcom (Rich) of Sevierville Tennessee, and Uncle, Lawrence (Cotton) and wife Martha Robertson of Speedwell. Special nieces, Erica Heck, Harrogate, Tennessee, Heather Thompson, Knoxville, Tennessee and Amy Jo Goodin of Speewell, TN. Sisters-in-law Sandra Thompson, Knoxville, Tennessee, D.D. Thompson and Brother-in law, Rodney Thompson of Harrogate, Tennessee.

Grandchildren, Olivia Grace Robertson, Noah Bradley Robertson of Speedwell, Tennessee. Riley Parker King, and Halle McLayne King of Harrogate, Tennessee.

Funeral Services will be held at Pump Springs Baptist Church, Saturday, August 2, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Scott Cannon and Reverend Emery Minton, Jr. presiding. Music will be provided by Todd Spangler, Ben and Melissa Dishner, and Rev. Gary Miller.

Interment will be in the Robertson Family Cemetery at Speedwell. Pallbearers will be his nephews, Matthew Robertson, Aaron Robertson, Dakota Robertson, Bradley Thompson, Scott Thompson, John Michael Robertson and his friends and co-workers at his Haymaker Farms, William Wagner and Rufus Irvin.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Directors and Officers of Commercial Bank, and Randell Meyers and Directors of Powell Valley Electric Co-operative, and the members of Real Life Sunday School Class.

The Family will receive friends from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday, August 1, at Pump Springs Baptist Church, and from 9 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 2. Memorials Suggested to Servolution Health Services, 245 Powell Valley School Lane, Speedwell, Tennessee, 37870 or Pump Springs Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2, Harrogate, Tennessee.

Online condolences and guestbook are available at www.creechfh.com

Creech Funeral Home, Middlesboro, is in charge of all arrangements.