16785 WILLIAM CLAY ROBISON
15 Jan 1927 - 7 Apr 2000
Died in Piedmont, CA   Interred in West Point Post Cemetery, West Point, NY
 

William Clay Robison was a man who dedicated his life to academic excellence and service to his country. His achievements at West Point and in the United States Air Force were the hallmark of his professional career from which he, and those around him, drew inspiration. At the end of his life, "Bill" displayed a soldier's fortitude as he faced the daunting challenge of cancer.

Bill was born in Pleasant Hill, MI. It does not seem to be mere coincidence that Bill was born in the same year that Charles Lindbergh became the first man to cross the Atlantic Ocean by airplane. Bill was destined to be a flier and displayed a love of aircraft throughout his life.

As a child, Bill moved to Piedmont, CA, where he lived with his mother Marguerite Clay Robison, his stepfather Walter Robison, and his brother George. As a teenager, Bill excelled as a Boy Scout, demonstrated superior personal character traits which led to achieving Eagle Scout.

In 1944 at the age of 17, Bill graduated in the top of his Piedmont High School class, and his valedictorian speech focused on the importance of service to the country.

With the help of his stepfather, Walter Robison, Bill received an appointment to West Point from Congressman John Tolan and, in the interim, attended the University of California-Berkeley. In 1945, Bill entered the Military Academy with classmates who were veterans of combat experience in WWII. He excelled in the scientific and engineering disciplines as well as physical and military training, receiving the designation of "Star Man." He participated in intramural sports and found time for extracurricular activities, like the Portuguese and Photography Clubs. He developed a close friendship with roommate Les Kirkpatrick, whose death in Korea in 1950 was a grievous blow. In June 1949, Bill graduated 13th in his class of 574 and took advantage of the option to join the Air Force, following his early hero Charles Lindbergh.

As a second lieutenant, Bill attended flight training in Texas and earned his wings. During 1950-51, he served his first Air Force assignment with the Strategic Air Command in London and Germany. Bill related an event in which his SAC group was practicing a bombing exercise over the Mediterranean Sea. A steel cable had broken during the drop and extended out the bomb bay doors. He found the crawl space above the bomb bay doors was too small for both him and his parachute. He removed his parachute and inched his way along the crawl space above the doors to reach the cable. As he described it, the wind was horrific. With great fortitude, Bill was able to reach the cable and pull it inside.

During 1951-53, he attended the California Institute ofTechnology and received a master's degree in aeronautical engineering. During that assignment, Bill met Marianne Buttner, and they married in 1953.

At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, Bill helped develop the B-58, a medium-range bomber. His son Timothy Walter was born in 1958 and Bill took his young family to Carswell Air Force Base in Ft. Worth, TY, where the B-58 was being tested. In 1960, his daughter Helen Marguerite was born.

Bill later served at the Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL; at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH; and at Andrews Air Force Base, MD. During his second assignment at Wright-Patterson, Bill was an assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the Air Force Institute ofTechnology and published papers focused on specialized aspects of aeronautical engineering. During 1968-69, Bill was responsible for tracking North Vietnamese Army movements with the 361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron. On 7 Dec 1968, as commander of an EC-47, Bill flew a highly classified, arduous reconnaissance mission over hostile terrain that resulted in the collection of valuable data. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. During his time of service in Viet Nam, Bill flew a total of 129 combat missions. Bill's final Air Force years were spent in the Pentagon in Washington, DC.

As a devoted father, Bill encouraged Tim and Helen to work hard at their studies. Tim earned a Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology while Helen became a chemical engineer. At home, he was affectionately known as "Harry Homeowner" for his many projects with the power saw, building bookcases, paneling rooms, and painting walls. He created a dark room and pursued color photography. His photographs of Yosemite, the Carmel coast, and castles in Wales decorated the walls of his home and office.

Bill also followed a second career in commercial real estate, earning a broker's license and working as a vice president and chief financial officer in a property management firm. Keeping up with the latest in computer innovations became a new hobby, so he computerized the family finances. Following travel to Africa, the Rhine River country, and along the Danube, Bill wrote wonderful letters detailing his and Marianne's adventures.

In April 1999, Bill was diagnosed with cancer and embarked upon a radioactive implant therapy. Bill main-tained a positive outlook and displayed an incredible level of fortitude despite the pain from the treatment. He re-solved to recover. Perhaps his finest character qualities were displayed in that battle with cancer and its complications.

Bill's reverence for the Academy grew over the years of career and retirement. He looked forward to visits with his '49er classmates Jim Coghlan, Jim Willson, Dick Connell, and Frank Sarsfield. Pictures of West Point were prominently hung in his home study. Missing his 50th Reunion was a major disappointment. When Bill passed away, the family determined his wish would be to return to his beloved West Point, where he was received with appropriate military honors in May 2000
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Timothy W. Robison, Ph.D.; COL JamesJ. Coghlan, Jr. (USA, Pet.), and MarianneB. Robison
 
 

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