Harold and Elizabeth Robinson are Remembered Through Prestigious Scholarship

When J. Michael “Mickey” Robinson and his wife Catharine Ladnier established the Elizabeth and Harold Robinson Scholars and Fellows Fund at the University of Memphis in 1998, they did so for more than one reason. “I wanted to honor my parents, repay the people and organizations that have helped me during my time at the University of Memphis, and make it possible for remarkable students to focus on their studies without having to worry about the necessity of outside employment,” Robinson says.

Robinson’s father, Harold M. Robinson, Sr. was born and raised in Greenfield, Tennessee. He quit high school, venturing off to Detroit to try factory work. “I think he got homesick and returned to Greenfield where his father had a small store before eventually moving to Memphis,” Robinson says.

His mother, Elizabeth Horton Robinson, orphaned at age 11, attended West Tennessee State Normal School (now the University of Memphis) for two years in 1924 and 1925, but had to quit for financial reasons. A mutual friend introduced the two in Memphis. Harold and Elizabeth were married on November 23, 1927 at Speedway Baptist Church and celebrated their honeymoon at the Claridge Hotel, at the time, downtown Memphis’ premier hotel and major center of social and business activity.

When Robinson attended Memphis State University in the 1960s, he received small scholarships, but had to work during most of his time in college. Although he graduated with a BBA in marketing, and later an MBA from Harvard University, Robinson chose to establish scholarships in the College of Education, to honor his mother, who wanted to be a teacher, and the College of Communication and Fine Arts (CCFA).

“We were very impressed with the programs in CCFA under Dean Ranta’s leadership,” Robinson remembers. “We could see that the programs were successful and that gave us confidence that the funds would be well applied.”

“Mickey and Catherine are genuine philanthropists—in the true sense of the word,” says Patty Bladon, CCFA’s director of development. “They see a need and go about fulfilling that need through their own means, without regard for recognition, but with much concern for the welfare of those to whom they offer support.”

Since the Robinsons established the scholarship in 1998, 52 undergraduate and graduate students have benefited from the couples generosity. Among them are Christopher “Robin” Nichols, undergraduate art major with a focus in painting; Katarzyna “Kasia” Życińska, graduate student in architecture; Mikah Meyer, recent Bachelor of Music graduate with a focus in voice performance; Clarissa Dunbar, incoming freshman in journalism; Joshua Teal, undergraduate theatre performance major; and Kimberley Johnson, doctoral student in communication. The competition for the scholarship, which carries enough money to pay for approximately half of an undergraduate student’s in-state tuition, is intense. However, the selection process is just as challenging. Although their reasons for applying for the scholarship vary, students are united in talent and dedication to academic excellence.

“The Robinson scholarship is a very unusual scholarship in that it is not tied to a specific discipline nor is it exclusively tied to academic achievement,” says Richard Ranta, Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts.

Although the scholarship requires students to maintain a certain GPA, it was set up with the intention to provide support to students who complete their academic requirements and excel in their major.

“When discussing the scholarship initially, we wanted to make sure that it provided funds for CCFA students who are talented in their chosen field of study and that we could award the money depending on need, talent, and academic achievement,” Ranta remembers. Originally only available to students in the fine and performing arts, the scholarship has now been expanded to include the College’s communication disciplines.

Robinson’s feelings for his hometown and the University of Memphis are profound. “I received a fine education and grew as a person,” Robinson says about his experience at the University. “I was prepared to excel in my military service, reaching the rank of Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guards, to earn my MBA from Harvard and, subsequently, did well in my business career.” What’s more is that attending the U of M seems like a Robinson family tradition. Both of Robinson’s brothers attended, several of his nieces and nephews graduated from the U of M, as did various cousins. “In fact, there was probably a member of my family there from West Tennessee State Normal School on,” Robinson says.

Although Elizabeth Horton Robinson never had the opportunity to teach, her son has helped many young students to achieve their dream of a college degree.

“It is a pleasure to see young men and women do well in their studies and move on to graduate school or begin their career,” Robinson says of the rewards.