The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Lottery Veteran Recognition: James Robinson
09.11.2020 | Football
Retired Coast Guard captain to be honored when Texas Football hosts UTEP.
Captain James Robinson devoted nearly 30 years of his life serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. Now he devotes his retirement to honoring those who served.
Robinson chairs the Veterans Memorial Advisory Group in Williamson County. He's actively engaged in building community relationships, coordinating veterans affairs and hosting events on Memorial Day and Veterans Day on the Veterans Memorial Plaza in Sun City, Texas.
The plaza is the volunteer organization's crown jewel. It opened in 2003.
"We do everything we can to maintain it," Robinson said. "It's a big deal for us."
Robinson said he wants to make a difference, which also motivated his years of service in the Coast Guard, though that was not his original plan. He was set to attend Ohio State University on a scholarship for pharmacy school, but a visit to his high school guidance counselor's office opened Robinson's eyes to something new.
He saw a photo of this tall ship on the office wall.
"What is that," Robinson asked, "some kind of cruise ship?"
It was the USCGC Eagle, the flagship for the Coast Guard and essential training cutter for future officers.
And Robinson also quickly learned that no one from his Ohio high school had ever attended the Coast Guard Academy. The counselor handed Robinson a dusty curriculum manual, which also happened to have some application forms in the back.
Robinson submitted the forms, sent in his SAT scores and earned an appointment.
Soon enough he was one of the cadets learning the ropes on that stunning water vessel.
Following his graduation from the academy, Robinson began what he thought would be a five-year service appointment in 1969, but he did not retire until 1994. His career was primarily focused on Marine Safety, inspecting and securing ships, and also worked as an officer investigating major accidents.
Robinson's two children earned degrees at The University of Texas, and he and his wife, Linda, are season ticket holders for football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball.
They are happy to drive in from Sun City to attend any and all home games.
"When we first got (football) season tickets, we were way high on the high side," Robinson said. "We couldn't even see the scoreboard. Eventually we moved down to some pretty good seats."
Thanks to the Texas Lottery, great things are happening all across Texas. Every year, more than $1 billion of lottery revenue goes to good causes like public education and veterans' assistance programs.
Beginning with the first veterans' dedicated scratch ticket game in 2009, the Texas Lottery has now contributed over $140 million to the Fund for Veterans' Assistance.
Since 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated more than $31 billion in revenue for the state of Texas. Through strict adherence to their vision, mission and core values, the Texas Lottery is dedicated to ensuring that this support continues.