Nick’s note: A series of stories from TheDerisoReport.com looking back at key moments in the journey to construct a museum in honor of the late Eddie G. Robinson, who achieved a still-standing Division I record for career wins as football coach through six decades at Grambling State. The museum is set for its long-awaited grand opening next month on campus:
June 10, 2005
It may only be a short stroll through his towering legacy, but organizers hope a peek at some Eddie Robinson memorabilia will jumpstart the long-delayed project to honor him with a museum.
Members of the Eddie Robinson Museum Commission on Thursday put the finishing touches to plans for a temporary exhibit that would open as part of the city of Grambling’s Juneteenth celebration next week.
That represents a small but important breakthrough for an idea that’s stalled since first being approved by the Louisiana Legislature back in 1999. While the larger project has been delayed by budget cuts and indecision on where to put the proposed museum, the temporary exhibit idea has come together quickly.
“It’s not everything we want it to be,” said governor-appointed board member John Belton, a Ruston attorney. “But at least we are moving forward.”
Robinson retired after the 1997 season, having spent almost 60 seasons as head coach at Grambling State University. He held the record for most wins in all of college football, with 408, from 1984 through 2003. It still stands as the record in Division I.
The temporary exhibit honoring him, featuring selected pieces of memorabilia from GSU’s in-house collection, will open at 9 a.m. June 17 in the Stadium Support Facility next to Robinson Stadium.
Several local and university officials are expected to attend, as well as members of the Robinson family. Former Robinson assistant Douglas Porter, who is still a close family friend, also will speak.
“It’s very satisfying to see that at last we’ve got some positive movement,” said Porter, an ex-officio member of the board who, like Belton, was at the original commission meeting in 2001. “I hope and pray that we can get this done while Coach is still alive.”
GSU athletics director Willie Jeffries on Thursday suggested the addition of a multimedia presentation, designed to highlight Robinson’s accomplishments not just as a coach, but also as a great American.
“When you talk about Eddie Robinson and what he stands for, it’s fitting,” said GSU coach Melvin Spears, who was a driving force behind the idea to establish a temporary exhibit in the already-existing trophy cases that line the walls of the support facility where his office is located.
“I’m elated we are so close to getting it done,” Spears said. “It’s a way to honor one of this country’s most important individuals — and to talk about the way he influenced so many people.”
Belton also thanked the group on Thursday for its hard work on the project, which Belton said directly led to his receiving the Tourism Service Award last month from the Ruston-Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Ruston Main Street Commission.
Coach’s legacy plays out at exhibit
Grambling ‘has a treasure within its midst’ — Eddie Robinson
June 18, 2005
Emotion shot through the Friday morning opening of an exhibit of memorabilia from Eddie Robinson’s storied career at Grambling State University.
Doris Robinson entered to a standing ovation, then brought the house down with her touching memories of a life spent around husband Eddie Robinson — the football-coaching legend who she knows as a childhood sweetheart.
“It’s been a great adventure,” said Doris Robinson, who attended with son Eddie Robinson Jr. “I don’t know what it would have been like if he didn’t get this job. My years here have been great, and that’s to say nothing of Eddie’s years.”
The exhibit, presented in conjunction with the city of Grambling’s on-going Juneteenth celebrations, represents a long stride forward in a sometimes-bumpy six-year journey to honor Robinson with a museum.
The Louisiana Legislature first approved the project in 1999. Former Gov. Mike Foster named a four-member commission, with ex-officio membership from throughout the GSU administration, which first met in 2001.
But a series of budget cuts and disagreements over where the museum would be located stalled the project – until Ruston attorney John Belton and others reconvened in January, after nearly a year of inactivity. They vowed to jumpstart the museum by opening a display that was smaller in scope.
The artifacts are presented exclusively from the collection of Grambling State University. Robinson, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, was unable to attend. But a succession of friends and admirers reminisced about his legacy.
“I think he would have been very appreciative,” said former GSU assistant coach Douglas Porter, a long-time family friend. “He would have been humbled — because that’s the nature of the man. He would be moved, emotionally, to know that Grambling has finally awakened to the fact that it has a treasure within its midst.”
Both Doris Robinson and Porter were nearly moved to tears as they spoke. Several local dignitaries mixed with Grambling alumni — including the mayors of Grambling, Ruston and Arcadia, who each paid tribute to Robinson. Grambling Mayor Martha Andrus read a proclamation dedicated to “A Tiger in Winter.”
Athletics director Willie Jeffries closed out the ceremony with a series of humorous memories about Robinson, who he faced a number of times during his own 44-year career in coaching — mainly at South Carolina State.
“To have known him, to have had a chance to play against him, it’s just amazing,” said Jeffries, who joined the GSU administration late last year.
“Everybody wanted to beat him; that would’ve been a star in your crown,” said Jeffries, with a hearty chuckle. “Of course, you’re looking at one of Coach Rob’s victims.”
About Robinson
Eddie Robinson was hired as a coach and teacher in 1941 by what was then the Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute, which would later become Grambling. By 1995, he had become the first coach to win 400 games. Robinson eventually amassed 408 victories before retiring in 1997, a mark that stood as the best in college football until the 2003 season. A member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, he led Grambling to 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles.
GET IN THE GAME:
Previous editions of the Robinson Museum journey –
The Eddie G. Robinson Museum: A dream fulfilled
Follow us on the Web –
TheDerisoReport on Facebook
TheDerisoReport on Twitter
No comments yet.