1901-02 F.B. Robinson Huntsville Item

Born in Huntsville in 1863, F.B. “Fred” Robinson, 23rd president, came close to being a charter member of Texas Press Association. He was at Houston in 1880, but his train was very late and the organization had been completed when he arrived.

He began his print shop career as a small boy at the Huntsville Item, which was operated by his father.

He sold the Galveston News on the streets of Huntsville in the late 1870s for 10 cents a copy.

He edited and published the Huntsville Item from 1884-1902 then moved to Waco. He joined the association in 1882 and went on the first official excursion to California. He was elected secretary of TPA in 1889, serving five years.

He was secretary and treasurer for the city of Huntsville for 20 years.

Robinson married Laura Meredith in 1891. She was a newspaper worker with Waco papers and served as president of Texas Woman’s Press Association.

Upon leaving Huntsville, Robinson joined the Waco Times-Herald, and was one of the editors until it was sold to another company in 1927.