A week from today is Thanksgiving, Nov. 22.
It would've also been Bill Robinson's birthday.
The longtime Marietta Times sports editor and writer died last Friday night, and Lord, I'm going to miss the man. But I give so much thanks for having known him.
A lot of people do.
"Really will miss Robbie," said Marietta High co-head baseball coach Jim Thrash. "I recall him from my days as a high school athlete. He actually used to ride the bus with us to ballgames on the road."
Robinson did not drive for whatever reason, so he relied on friends, public transportation, taxis to get him where he needed to be. And, of course, in Marietta, a lot of places were within walking distance."
Fact Box
Memorial Service
A memorial service for Bill Robinson will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the McDonough Auditorium on the campus of Marietta College. It is being organized by Wendy O'Brien and Dave Grande.
You were liable to run into him at a grocery store, barber shop, or pharmacy at almost any time. I know that whenever that occurred, I always asked him if he needed a ride someplace.
He was such good company and a great conversationalist.
Of course, he was also a great sports writer.
"Robbie was an exceptional writer and first class human being," said Marietta College baseball coach Brian Brewer. "The part of Robbie I most enjoyed was his sincerity. He truly cared about the individuals and teams he covered.
"While the profession may have suffered a great loss in Robbie's passing, we all here in the valley lost a great historian, fan, friend, and man. We in the Marietta College Athletic Department will greatly miss Mr. Bill Robinson."
Thrash added, "As a coach, I've always appreciated his efforts to write positive articles about high school athletics. Will miss our conversations about how much I hated his beloved Cardinals."
Yes, Robinson was a St. Louis Cardinals fan. After all, he's a native of Tennessee, and he got his masters degree in journalism at the University of Missouri.
About a year ago this past summer, Larry Bradfield, Robinson and myself were planning a journey to PNC Park in Pittsburgh to see the Cardinals play the Pirates. But it never came to fruition.
Robinson usually spent the holidays with friends - and he had so many of them.
He never married, because he was married to his work. And, he never lacked for company, because along with his many, many friends during his lifetime, he had seven Collies, I understand.
About a month ago, I visited Robinson at his appartment. With him was Adam, his last Collie.
Robinson had this huge TV screen, and he was watching an ESPN special on Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
He was upbeat and talkative as ever.
Oh, is he ever going to be missed.
"Don't know how a southerner ended up as a lifetime Marietta resident, but we were better for it," Thrash said.
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor, and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com
