Clyde Robinson

Our dearly loved husband, father, brother, uncle and "Pop Pop," Clyde Hobart Robinson, Jr. passed away on May 24th, 2025, in Frisco, TX at the age of 82 years old. He was born to Joan (née Greene) and Clyde Hobart Robinson, Sr. on July 12th, 1942, in Sedalia, Missouri at the home of his grandparents. He was affectionately known as "Sonny" by his family because he was the first born and was a son.

From a young age, he was cerebral and displayed remarkable intelligence and skill, captivating his younger siblings by building crystal and potato radios, as well as homemade rockets. He was also known to be warm and loving and a provider of great advice. A significant moment in Mr. Robinson's young life came in 1956, two years after the U.S. Supreme Court Decision of Brown vs. the Board of Education, when he was a member of the first class to integrate Smith-Cotton High School, named after the daughter of the founder of Sedalia, Missouri and which still exists today.

Another key milestone came when Mr. Robinson began his career of service in the United States Military. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in the summer of 1960, as one of the youngest midshipmen and only one of five Black midshipmen of what would be the graduating class of 1964. He later cross-commissioned to United States Air Force where he received several important assignments supporting top-secret national security operations, at the height of the Cold War. Johnston Island AFB was the most rigorous assignment and reflected his dedication to duty, deep technical expertise and extraordinary discipline. He also received assignments in Biloxi, Mississippi and Ogden, Utah - the latter being where he met his first wife, Carol (Moore) Scott. His last assignment was as at Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota, where their dear daughter, Cara D. Robinson, was born.

After being honorably discharged from the United States Military in 1970, he began a career in Telecommunications. He earned the highly technical federal broadcast engineering license and later was an executive at CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting) and NPR (National Public Radio) where he was instrumental in shaping the national footprint of public broadcasting and worked at the intersection of content, policy and then-emerging transmission technologies.

In 1981, Mr. Robinson married his beloved, devoted and life-long partner of the last 44 years, Alice Robinson, mother to two children from her previous marriage - Stephen and Michelle Ridgley, who he loved dearly. Their marriage was a testament to loyalty, friendship and the quiet strength of enduring love. They were committed to blending their families together, and over the decades they built a lovely life together that included travel and making family memories.

In addition to Alice, Cara, Michelle and Stephen, Mr. Robinson is survived by his bonus grand-children Rylie, Kendall and McKenzie Ridgley who he adored. He is also survived by his four younger siblings: Joan English, Muriel Robinson, Minetta McCall and Darrell Robinson, Sr. and their children Herb and Leslie English, Chasity Robinson Cabell, Darrell Robinson Jr., Shauna Robinson Hollinger and Alex Robinson.

In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging donations to the African American Male Education Network & Development organization here: hcps://www.zeffy.com/en-US/fundraising/racial-trauma-healing- and- wellness-center whose mission is to advocate for the academic, psychological and spiritual development of Black male students, faculty, and administrators in educational systems.