Ron Robins Class of '51
Ron Robins was born at home on January 10, 1934 in McMinnville , Oregon to Charles and Laura Robins. In 1939 they moved to Silverton , Oregon where he started the first grade at age 5. Ron was in the third grade when his family moved to Coos Bay .
Ron started playing organized sports in Junior High School, where he played softball, basketball, tennis and participated in track. At Marshfield he played tennis his sophomore and junior years and earned two varsity letters. In the summer of 1948 he won the State tournament (15 years and under), he took 4th in the state High School tournament his junior year but did not play tennis his senior year.
While at MHS, Mr. Robins earned three varsity letters playing football for Pete Susick. As a junior, he was the only player to be selected unanimously for 1st team District honors. His senior year he served as a co-captain and was selected to play in the Shriner’s All-Star football game. Unfortunately, Ron was not able to play in the Shriner’s game as he broke his collarbone in practice.
He earned three letters in varsity basketball as a starter his sophomore, junior and senior years and was captain during his senior year. In 1949, was named as 1st team All-State and was told that he was among the youngest players ever to gain All-State honors. Ron’s junior year he was named to the 2nd team All-State and his senior year was again named to the 1st team All-State and also 1st team by United Press. Bill Borcher listed Ron as one of his “Top 10 Players” while he was coach at Marshfield .
Ron graduated from Marshfield High School in 1951 and entered Oregon State College (University now), where he earned a 4-year basketball scholarship playing under the famed “Slats” Gill, coach. Ron earned 4 letters at Oregon State and was a starter his sophomore, junior and senior years and was captain his senior year. He was named to the 2nd team Northern Division Pacific Coast Conference his junior year. Oregon State was the Pacific Coast Champion in 1955, his senior year and the team was ranked 8th in the nation. “Slats” Gill listed Mr. Robins as 2nd on his all time two-handed set shooter and as a scorer from mid-court or long shot. Coach “Slats” listed Ron as tied for 3rd as best clutch player. (“Slats” coached at Oregon State for 36 years.)
In 1956 he graduated from Oregon State with a Business Administration degree and two years in ROTC. Ron was inducted into the Air Force as a commissioned 2nd Lt. After induction in San Antonio , Texas , his first assignment was basic flight training in Hondo , Texas . After 6 months he was assigned to multi-engine training at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock , Texas . On a trip to Dallas to see the NCAA basketball tournament in 1957 Ron met his future wife, Helen who was a Braniff Airways hostess. The two were married 9 months later, after Ron finished B-47 Strategic Air Command training in Wichita , Kansas .
Ron started playing organized sports in Junior High School, where he played softball, basketball, tennis and participated in track. At Marshfield he played tennis his sophomore and junior years and earned two varsity letters. In the summer of 1948 he won the State tournament (15 years and under), he took 4th in the state High School tournament his junior year but did not play tennis his senior year.
While at MHS, Mr. Robins earned three varsity letters playing football for Pete Susick. As a junior, he was the only player to be selected unanimously for 1st team District honors. His senior year he served as a co-captain and was selected to play in the Shriner’s All-Star football game. Unfortunately, Ron was not able to play in the Shriner’s game as he broke his collarbone in practice.
He earned three letters in varsity basketball as a starter his sophomore, junior and senior years and was captain during his senior year. In 1949, was named as 1st team All-State and was told that he was among the youngest players ever to gain All-State honors. Ron’s junior year he was named to the 2nd team All-State and his senior year was again named to the 1st team All-State and also 1st team by United Press. Bill Borcher listed Ron as one of his “Top 10 Players” while he was coach at Marshfield .
Ron graduated from Marshfield High School in 1951 and entered Oregon State College (University now), where he earned a 4-year basketball scholarship playing under the famed “Slats” Gill, coach. Ron earned 4 letters at Oregon State and was a starter his sophomore, junior and senior years and was captain his senior year. He was named to the 2nd team Northern Division Pacific Coast Conference his junior year. Oregon State was the Pacific Coast Champion in 1955, his senior year and the team was ranked 8th in the nation. “Slats” Gill listed Mr. Robins as 2nd on his all time two-handed set shooter and as a scorer from mid-court or long shot. Coach “Slats” listed Ron as tied for 3rd as best clutch player. (“Slats” coached at Oregon State for 36 years.)
In 1956 he graduated from Oregon State with a Business Administration degree and two years in ROTC. Ron was inducted into the Air Force as a commissioned 2nd Lt. After induction in San Antonio , Texas , his first assignment was basic flight training in Hondo , Texas . After 6 months he was assigned to multi-engine training at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock , Texas . On a trip to Dallas to see the NCAA basketball tournament in 1957 Ron met his future wife, Helen who was a Braniff Airways hostess. The two were married 9 months later, after Ron finished B-47 Strategic Air Command training in Wichita , Kansas .
