Howard W. Robison

Howard Winfield Robison (October 30, 1915 – September 26, 1987) was an American attorney and politician from New York. A Republican, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1958 to 1975.

Howard W. Robison
Robison while serving in the U.S. House in 1959
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office January 14, 1958 – January 3, 1975
Preceded by	W. Sterling Cole
Succeeded by	Matthew F. McHugh
Constituency	37th district (1958–1963) 33rd district (1963–1973) 27th district (1973–1975)
Personal details
Born	(1915-10-30)October 30, 1915 Owego, New York, US
Died	September 26, 1987(1987-09-26) (aged 71) Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, US
Resting place	Evergreen Cemetery, Owego, New York, US
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Gertrude "Trudy" L. Frederick (m. 1946)
Children	2
Profession	Attorney
Military service
Service	United States Army
Years of service	1942–1946
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Unit	U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps
Wars	World War II

Early life

Howard W. Robison was born in Owego, New York on October 30, 1915, the son of Addison J. Robison and Pluma (Moe) Robison.^[1][2] He was educated in Owego, and graduated from Owego Free Academy.^[3] He graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937 and received his LL.B. degree from Cornell Law School in 1939.^[4][5] After law school, Robison was admitted to the bar and began to practice in Owego.^[6]

Career

In 1942, Robison enlisted for World War II.^[4] After completing his initial training in the United States Army, he was assigned to the Counterintelligence Corps (CIC).^[4] Robison was a CIC investigator until receiving his discharge in 1946, and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.^[4][7]

After his military service, Robison resumed practicing law in Owego.^[4] A Republican, he served as county attorney of Tioga County, New York from 1946 to 1957, a member of Owego's town board from 1947 to 1956, and Owego's town attorney from 1957 to 1958.^[4]

Member of Congress

In 1958, Robison was elected to the U.S. House in a special election held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of W. Sterling Cole.^[8] He was reelected every two years from November 1958 to November 1972 and served from January 14, 1958, until January 3, 1975.^[9]

Robison voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1960,^[10] 1964,^[11] and 1968,^[12] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.^[13][14]

Later life

After leaving Congress, Robison was vice president for congressional relations at the American Railroad Association and was a resident of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.^[15] He died in Rehoboth Beach on September 26, 1987 and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Owego.^[15]

Family

In 1946, Robison married Gertrude L. Frederick, nicknamed "Trudy".^[4] They were married until his death and were the parents of two sons.^[16]