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Businessman Bill Robinson dies at 70. Popular Bradenton park is ‘his legacy’
Bradenton businessman Bill Robinson lost his battle with cancer early Jan. 2, 2020, in Houston. He was 70.
“Dad passed away peacefully this morning. As many of you know, dad courageously battled acute myeloid leukemia for over 508 days. We are very sad with his passing but thankful for his life and all the joy he brought to us and to all of his friends and family,” state Rep. Will Robinson announced in a Facebook post.
“We were so fortunate to spend quality time with dad here in Houston over the past week and are thankful for the amazing care he received at MD Anderson,” Will Robinson wrote.
Mr. Robinson was president of Robby’s Sporting Goods, which was sold to Bradenton-based Champs Sports in 1988. Mr. Robinson’s father, Robby, and uncle, Penny Robinson, founded the company in Bradenton in the 1960s. The Bradenton store was the first of more than 40.
After Champs acquired Robby’s, Mr. Robinson developed The Loop subdivision in Northwest Bradenton, and was chief executive officer of Pursely Tree Farms, re-branding it the Treehouse and supplying quality trees to landscapers throughout the southeast United States
More recently, he was the visionary behind the Robinson Gateway Project, a planned mixed use development off Interstate 75 north of Palmetto. He also ran the Fit2Run store, with his son Parks, at the Mall at UTC.
“He was quite a visionary and was sometimes ahead of his time,” close friend John Rice said. “He was a guy who could really see trends coming. He spent a lot of time in California and brought back a lot of trends in sports and sports apparel to the east coast. He really was on top of things.
“He was an all-around good person. It’s a huge loss for the community and his family,” Rice said.
Robinson Preserve might have become a golf course, but Mr. Robinson got together with Manatee County government official Charlie Hunsicker and former county commissioner Joe McClash to come up with a better idea, his son, Will Robinson, said.
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“He loved Robinson Preserve. That’s his legacy,” Will Robinson said. “After his cancer treatments, he liked to go for a walk there with my mother.”
Mr. Robinson was born in Bradenton General Hospital on Dec. 26, 1949, to Harry and Genevieve Robinson, and graduated from Manatee High School in 1967. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in marketing, he joined the family business, Robby’s Sporting Goods.
“To be successful, it takes good people and a lot of money, but it’s the people that matter the most,’‘ he once told the Bradenton Herald.
Will Robinson said his father was a great family man who worked very hard.
“He only had two lessons: work hard and tell the truth,” Will Robinson said.
In his Facebook post, Will Robinson said: “Dad gave me one final fatherly lesson with his battle: treat every day as a gift and live that day the very best you can. Dad is now at peace with our Savior. Thank you all for your prayers and love for me and my family.”
Mr. Robinson was on the board of directors of Rawlings Sporting Goods, Palma Sola Botanical Park and was the chair of the board of the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association (SANCA).
Jerry Marlar, board member of SANCA., was a longtime friend of Bill Robinson.
“SANCA and our business communities have lost a great leader and friend today. It has been a privilege to work with Bill and watch his contributions to our organization, his business leadership and the love he had for his family. I will miss him greatly, and like others who knew him well, have not been surprised by his strong faith in God and courage over the last two years. We send our sincere condolences to Peggy and his whole family.,” Marlar said.
Stephen V. Rodriguez, CEO and president of SANCA, added: “Bill was one of the original board members of SANCA and served as chairman from 2014–18. He dedicated countless hours of service to make SANCA and Nathan Benderson Park a success. His passion for the park, sport, this community and his family was evident to anyone who spent time with Bill. Bill Robinson was a great leader and mentor, who had a natural gift to inspire and motivate. We will miss him greatly and our prayers are with his family at this time of loss.”
Mr. Robinson is survived by his wife, Peggy, and three sons, Will, Parks, and his wife, Kate, and Wesley, two grandchildren, Parker and Genevieve, and his brother, John. He was predeceased by his brother H.L. “Penny” Robinson (wife Sandra) and his sister, Rebecca Logue.
A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3100 26th St. W., Bradenton. Burial will follow at Manasota Memorial Park, 1221 53rd Avenue East, Bradenton. The family requests memorial donations in lieu of flowers. Memorial donations may be made to Manatee Community Foundation with “Bill Robinson Foundation” in the memo line and mailed to:Manatee Community Foundation, 2820 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 and/or to:St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3100 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205.
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