Elmer Edwin "Rob-Rob" Robinson (October 3, 1894 – June 9, 1982) was the 33rd

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

of San Francisco, California. A

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

, he served as San Francisco's mayor from January 1948 until January 1956. Robinson was born in the Richmond District of San Francisco, but primarily grew up in the northern California town of Fort Bragg. He moved back to San Francisco to attend night law school, after which he was admitted to the bar in 1915. He served as a deputy district attorney of San Francisco County, 1915 to 1921. He worked for 15 years, as a civil and criminal attorney in private practice. In 1933, President Roosevelt appointed Robinson to direct adjustment of claims of World War I veterans, at the request of the Disabled American Veterans. In January 1935, he became a Municipal Court judge, and that October a Superior Court judge. He was elected to two six-year terms on the San Francisco County Superior bench, 1936 and 1942. During World War II, he was the California State Chairman of a national salvage committee. Robinson was elected mayor of San Francisco in November 1947, taking office the following January and reelected for another four years in 1951. He promoted and oversaw numerous development projects, including an expansion of San Francisco International Airport and the construction of new schools, libraries, police stations, parking garages, and the modernization of the

San Francisco Municipal Railway The San Francisco Municipal Railway (SF Muni or Muni), is the public transit system for the City and County of San Francisco. It operates a system of bus routes (including trolleybuses), the Muni Metro light rail system, three historic cabl ...

. San Francisco, although relatively prosperous in the boom years after World War II, experienced some population loss to outlying suburban areas during Robinson's terms in office. By 1955 it was estimated the city had a population of over 800,000 people and a budget of over $200 million. From 1953 through 1955, Robinson served as president of the

United States Conference of Mayors The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The cities are each represented by their mayors or other chief elected officials. The organization was founded i ...

. Robinson returned to his law practice and served as president and general manager of Woodlawn Memorial Park, living in San Francisco before dying in

Paradise In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in parad ...

on June 8, 1982, aged 87.

References

External links

Found San Francisco link on RobinsonRobinson papers with bio
1894 births 1982 deaths Mayors of San Francisco California lawyers People from Fort Bragg, California California Republicans 20th-century American politicians Presidents of the United States Conference of Mayors 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American Episcopalians Burials at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery (Colma, California) {{California-mayor-stub