Former Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Associate Executive Director, Donald Keith Robinson, died Sunday, January 30, 2011, in Peoria at the age of 72 after recently being diagnosed with cancer.
Robinson began his career with the IHSA in 1978 as an Assistant Executive Director and was promoted to Associate Executive Director in 1991. He held that post until he retired in 1999. During his 22 years at the IHSA, he served as the administrator for football, wrestling, basketball and track & field. Robinson’s career at the IHSA coincided with the movement to bring equality to the number of state championships offered in girls sports and he was personally involved in the expansion of the football playoffs, including the addition of a sixth class in 1980.
“I had the honor and pleasure of working alongside Don for nine years at the IHSA,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “Even today, more than a decade after Don retired, in my travels to schools and to contests around the state, one of the questions that I heard the most was people asking about how Don was doing or what he was up to. To say he was a beloved figure would be an incredible understatement.”
Robinson was a native of Warsaw, Illinois and graduated from Warsaw High School in 1956. Following high school graduation, he served in the United States Army as an instructor in computer electronics in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Western Illinois University in 1963 and a Master’s Degree in Physical Education from the University of Iowa in 1969.
Robinson’s road to the IHSA began as a teacher, coach and official. His first job in education was at Savanna High School, where he was head football coach, head wrestling coach and assisted the track & field team from 1963 to 1965. He then moved on to Ottawa Marquette High School where he was the head football coach and an assistant coach in track and golf until 1972. His final stop before joining the IHSA came as the head football coach at Bradley-Bourbonnais High School, where he was then promoted to Assistant Director of Student Affairs in 1972 and, ultimately, Director of Student Affairs in 1975.
Robinson first became an IHSA official in 1961 and went on to become Certified in the sports of boys basketball and wrestling. He also officiated football, track & field and baseball before he retired to Honorary status in the Officials Department in 1979. He became recognized as one of the top basketball and football officials in the state and was selected as an IHSA Rule Interpreter in both sports prior to joining the Association staff.
Robinson served on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee from 1979 until his retirement and was a member of the National Federation Wrestling Rules Committee from 1988 to 1994, serving as the chairman from 1990-94. He also received the prestigious NFHS Citation Award in 2000 following his retirement.
Robinson was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993 and was named an IHSA Wrestling State Final Grand Marshal in 1999. He also served as the president and secretary of the Tri-Valley Officials Association in 1961 and was a member of the board of control for the South Inter-Conference Association (SICA) from 1976-78.
“Don dedicated his life to helping the student-athletes, coaches, administrators and high schools throughout Illinois for more than 30 years,” added Hickman. “He had an incredible impact on everyone that he came into contact with, but there is no doubt that there thousands and thousands of other individuals who were never aware that their lives were touched by Don.”
Even in retirement, Robinson remained connected with the IHSA and its member schools, as he held a position as an Account Representative for Royal Publishing at the time of his death. The Peoria-based printing company provides printing services for the IHSA and many of its member schools.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 5 at Wilton Mortuary in Peoria. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, February 4 and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, February 5 at the mortuary. Cremation rites have been accorded.