- Date Of Birth: April 6, 1941
- Date Of Death: September 18, 2019
- State: Texas
Jim Fountain Robinson was born to parents, Fayrel Edith Stoner and Jim Franklin Robinson on April 6, 1941 in Miami, Oklahoma. He was the oldest of two, and had a sister, Dorothy. Jim attended school in Oklahoma and Texas earning a full ride tennis scholarship to Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he played and lettered all four years. He earned a Bachelor degree in Math and then a Master’s degree in Physics.
Initially after graduating from Baylor, he worked with the Space Flight program at NASA and was on the tech crew for the Apollo 11 space flight. Next, Jim and his partners built the Bay Area Racquet Club in Clear Lake, Texas and after a period of time, he and his partners added the Galveston Racquet Club. It was during this time that Jim was a sideline referee for the historic and famous Battle of the Sexes Tennis Match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. It was the passion of playing, coaching tennis, and later refereeing tennis that would be a lifelong love of his.
Jim sold his interest in the racquet clubs and went to work for Texas State Technical College in Waco. Additionally, he became Baylor University’s Tennis Coach. He taught 20 plus years at TSTC and became Head of the Computer Science Department until retiring in 2001. It was during his retirement years that Jim found his true passions: the love of traveling with his wife, Jo, and refereeing tennis. Jim was awarded the USTA (United States Tennis Association) – Texas Section Umpire of the Year Award in 2005. He refereed the US Open in New York for fifteen years, being there to celebrate their 50 year anniversary and being selected as one of the umpires who stays the entire time to call matches at the highest level. His family described his work ethic as “all or nothing” and that it was his goal “to do his best”. Jim accomplished this by being a dedicated professional, a loving husband, a devoted father, and an active grandfather. Jim is survived by his wife, Jo; his children, Jim, Jr, Kim, John, Carrie, and Paul and their spouses; and his grandchildren: Bailey, Gwen, Darby, Mary, Kelsey, Emily, Sam, Tyler, and Sydney. Jim is survived by his sister, Dorothy, and three nephews: Delton, Bobby, and David. He is preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Sandra.
