Thursday, July 7, 2011


Don Robinson died at 2 PM July 4 at a rehab center in Phoenix. He was being treated for a pulmonary embolism but on July 4, trying to get out of bed, he passed out, suffered cardiac arrest and died.  He went quickly with no pain. 

Don created the gymnastics program at Aurora High School, and coached there from 1960 to 1967, winning state championships in 1963, 1964, and 1967. He led the Arizona State University men's gymnastics program for 25 years (1969-93), guiding it to 13 top 10 national finishes and six conference titles. ASU had a pair of national runner-up finishes (1974, '78) before breaking through and winning the NCAA Championship in 1986. That same year Robinson earned national coach of the year honors.

He was inducted into the Arizona State University Hall of Distinction in 1993.

Under Robinson's tutelage 24 different Sun Devil student-athletes earned a combined 43 All-America awards.
In 2000 Robinson was the first recipient of the USA Gymnastics Lifetime Achievement Award.
Robinson's own gymnastics career began during his prep days at North High School before his collegiate career at Colorado State College. He earned four letters in college and was the team's top all-around performer. He earned his bachelor's degree from CSC in art education in 1958 and his master's degree from Eastern New Mexico University in 1968.
Prior to college, Don served in the Air Force for four years, and, while in the service, appeared on the old TV show “Beat the Clock” performing his black light one-finger stand trick.
Don married his wife Audrey in 1965. Unfortunately, Audrey suffers from Alzheimer’s and has been in assisted living for several years. They had no children.


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To all the friends and colleagues of Don Robinson
I first met Don in 1954 when he enrolled at the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colorado. I had been lured into the gymnastics gym by Coach Rossi and Don quickly made me a believer in the art and athletic nature of gymnastics. As an active member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, I convinced Don that he should join as a number of the gymnastics team members had done. I became his “big brother” for the fraternity activities although he was much older and wiser than I. During my senior year, Don, Grady Mathews, and I were fortunate to qualify for the National Gymnastics Championship, meet at the Naval academy so Coach Rossi took us via the railroad system to New York (Brooklyn) and then on to Annapolis for the competition.
In addition to these experiences and many others, Don was the best man at Louanne’s and my wedding in St Paul, Minnesota. I remember Don spotting me on a standing back flip in the front of the church during the rehearsal. He always seemed to work in the “art” of gymnastics in whatever he did.
          Don and I transported our high school gymnasts a number of times to the Christmas clinics in Tucson, Arizona and Sarasota, Florida. With two station wagons loaded with gymnasts, we would pull into a filling station for gas, the doors would all spring open, and there would be gymnasts on their hands walking all about the station grounds.
           Don and I both served as gymnastics instructors and counselors at Trojan Ranch near the little town of Gold Hill in the mountains west of Boulder. Along with the encouragement of Coach Walker, the camp owner and director, we were able to hold an international gymnastics clinic, including such stars as Rusty Mitchell. Many of you were there to hone your skills and workout under the beautiful blue skies of the Colorado mountains.
           Don and I and many of you were involved with the growth and popularity of gymnastics in Colorado and the USA. I venture to say because of Coach Rossi and Don, the Colorado gymnastics quality was one of the best, if not THE best, in the country. The growth and development of the skills of the sport and the quality of the individuals involved in the sport is a long lasting legacy left by Don and others.
         Thanks to a number of you (Pat Edwards, Jack Ryan, Ben Blea, and others) and the organization of the Colorado Golden Oldies Reunion we were all extremely fortunate to have valuable time together which gave us the chance to share with Don and catch up on the last 50 years.
          We all will miss Don dearly.
Art White