James "Jim" Robinson Collection

According to "A Boy From Conway", his autobiography, James "Jim" Carson Robinson was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina on July 19th 1922. He was the third child of James Clarence and Agnes Bryan Robinson. He grew up in Conway within Orange County, Florida during the Great Depression when it "was mostly orange groves" separating neighbors. He graduated from the University of Florida with an Associate of Arts degree on January 28th, 1942. Sequentially, he graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts on May 24th, 1943.

According to his obituary on Legacy.com, Jim served as an officer "when his Field Artillery Battalion was sent to Europe to replace the severe losses during the Battle of the Bulge." After his service, he returned to Gainesville to finish his law degree. Sequentially, he received a Bachelor of Laws on June 7th, 1948. On May 15th, 1949, he received a Certificate of Ordination as Deacon of the Presbyterian Church and remained an active member of the Presbyterian community throughout his career. He received his Juris Doctorate on December 17th, 1967 and began a long career revolving around law, community, and faith. He would serve as president of the Giles & Robinson law firm, the Aviation Authority, the Orlando Chamber of Commerce, the Orange County Kiwanis Club, the Central Florida Civic Theater, and WMFE Public Television. He had an unsuccessful run for Congress under a Democratic ticket in 1968, but served as County Attorney in Orange County during the removal of segregated facilities in the area.

According to "Accent on the Individual: The First Twelve Years of Florida Technological University" by Kenneth Sheinkopf, "Robinson recommended the land owned by his client, Frank Adamucci, who then sold the county 357 ½ acres of his land and donated 357 ½ more acres to be used for the university site." As County Attorney at the time, Robinson handled the legal and behind-the-scenes work concerning the initial creation of Florida Technological University. He received an Honorary Alumnus Degree from the University of Central Florida in 1983 from then-President Trevor Colbourn due to his influence and foundational support. In 1996, he was presented the University of Central Florida President's Medallion Society Award by then President John C. Hitt.

According to his biography on his law firm's website, he passed away on May 28, 2017 at the age of 94.