Two men who devoted their lives to Colorado and ran the Robinson Dairy — a Denver institution dating back to 1885 — have been named the 2009 Citizens of the West by the National Western Stock Show.
The brothers, Dick and Eddie Robinson, will accept the award Jan. 14 at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.
Pat Grant, president of the National Western Stock Show, said the brothers are unselfish and giving men.
“There is no question they have been generous with time and resources,” Grant said. “I don’t know of any charity or organization or statewide effort that either one or both have not been involved in.”
Grant said they also are down-to-earth and friendly.
Both Robinsons graduated from East High School and from Colorado State University, then known as Colorado A&M.
Dick Robinson received a degree in animal husbandry, and Eddie Robinson received a degree in agriculture.
Dick Robinson was chairman of the CSU board from 1982 through 1990, during the period when Al Yates was hired as president.
The Robinson brothers are giving seven scholarships a year for seven years to CSU’s School of Agricultural Sciences.
Both men served as artillery officers in the Army — Dick in the Korean War, where he saw action at Pork Chop Hill, and Eddie in peacetime Germany. Dick Robinson became a major and received the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Both said Tuesday their love is for Denver and Colorado.
“I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” Eddie Robinson said. “Neither one of us have second homes. We have lifelong friends here. We love the city. I think Denver is a wonderful city and Colorado a wonderful state.”
Their appreciation for Denver is reflected, he said, by their active involvement in the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Zoo and various hospitals.
The Citizen of the West designation is given to individuals who embody the spirit and determination of the Western pioneer and are committed to perpetuating the West’s agricultural heritage and ideals, the stock show said.
The Robinson Dairy was established in 1885 by their great-grandfather. The brothers took over in 1975 and sold it in 1999. However, they continue to serve as co-chief executives of Robinson Dairy LLC.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
