Retired Administrator/Teacher Ferol Robinson Dies at 88
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Ferol Robinson |
Ferol Robinson, 88, retired Sam Houston State University vice
president known and loved by communications professionals throughout
Texas and the nation, died early Sunday in Huntsville.
He was taken to Huntsville
Memorial Hospital Friday night after he called for emergency
help because he was having trouble breathing.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the
First United Methodist Church in Huntsville. A visitation is
scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Tuesday at the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral
Home, 1700 Normal Park Dr., 936.291.7300.
Robinson retired in 1981 as vice president for university affairs.
At that time his administrative area included student life, athletics,
intramurals, development and fund raising, alumni relations,
scholarships and endowments, special programs, student recruitment,
the Lowman Student Center, information and publication services,
the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, student housing, the health
center, university police, financial aid, and vending.
He came to Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1938, working
his way through school by selling milk from a cow he kept near
campus. He milked the cow twice a day for three years, selling
the milk for 40 cents a gallon. He completed both bachelor's
(1942) and master's (1947) degrees at Sam Houston State.
In 1942 he went into the Army, serving three and a half years
in the Classification and Assignments Division of the Adjutant
General's Department, and later as a Separation Counselor in
that department.
He returned to Sam Houston in 1946 and married Mary Creed Engledow
that year. She died in 2004. They had two daughters, the late
Pamela Ann Robinson, and Patricia Gail Trammell, who now lives
near Willis.
His first job at Sam Houston was as itinerant teacher trainer,
which involved student recruitment and high school relations.
He and his family moved to Missouri where he received his doctorate
from the University of Missouri in 1953.
He returned to Sam Houston State to direct the journalism program
for 20 years, training hundreds of news men and women, teachers,
public and industrial relations personnel, and journalism graduates
who pursued other careers. He served as a vice president for
10 years prior to his retirement in 1981.
In addition to his role in journalism, he taught classes in
vocational education, English, and teacher education. He was
co-editor of the Alumnus Magazine and faculty sponsor for the
Houstonian campus newspaper.
Other campus assignments included chairing the homecoming committee
from 1954 until his retirement, chairing and serving on the athletic
council and serving as athletic director, as well as 10 or more
other committees.
He was active in the Huntsville community, serving two terms
on the Huntsville City Council and two terms on the board of
directors of the Huntsville Walker County Chamber of Commerce.
He also served three terms as a member of the administrative
board of the First United Methodist Church, member and treasurer
of the campus Wesley Foundation, and president of the First United
Methodist board of trustees.
But his best work was done in the "mole-hole." That
was what his students called his tiny office in a corner of the
Houstonian newsroom, which was then located in the Thomason Building.
To them he was simply, "Dr. R."
He always had time to listen to a problem, give advice, or help
a student over a financial or emotional crisis. He was a rare
combination of teacher/father to hundreds of journalism majors
and minors.
He was a gifted writer, who could turn a phrase, but never turn
away a student. Although he had a big office and broad responsibilities
when he retired in 1981, he said that his happiest days were
in the mole-hole, teaching, advising and producing publicity
on Sam Houston.
He loved a sad story with a happy ending--a tear-jerker. White-haired
at an early age, he was known to his students as "the old
master" for his attention-getting opening paragraphs and
snappy endings.
Donations to the Ferol Robinson Endowment are suggested instead
of flowers, and may be sent to the Office of University Advancement;
Box 2537; Huntsville, TX 77341-2537.
—END—
SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Feb. 5, 2007
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.
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