Robert Dennis "Bob" Robbins (born August 27, 1944) is a former

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 again ...

member of the

Pennsylvania State Senate The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered eve ...

, representing the 50th District since 1990. He previously served as a member of the

Pennsylvania House of Representatives The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts. It ...

for the 17th District from 1983 to 1990.

Education and early career

Robbins was born and raised in the northwestern Pennsylvania borough of Greenville. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1962 and subsequently entered the

United States Military Academy at West Point The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...

with the Class of 1966. After graduation from West Point, Robbins was commissioned as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until 1 ...

in the Regular Army and served two tours in Vietnam as a paratrooper, eventually serving as company commander with D Company, 501st Airborne Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade,

101st Airborne Division The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault operations. It can plan, coordinate, and execute multiple battalion-size air assault operat ...

. He left the Army in 1971 with an

honorable discharge A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve. Each country's military has different types of discharge. They are generally based on whether the persons completed their training and the ...

at the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. With his Army service complete, Robbins earned his teaching certificate from

Geneva College Geneva College is a private Christian college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergr ...

in 1973 and then returned to Greenville, where he became a teacher and wrestling coach at Greenville High School. Robbins also worked as an insurance agent for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Public service

In 1982, Robbins won election as a

to a Mercer County-based seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and subsequently served four terms in the body. In 1990, Robbins ran for state senate in the 50th Senate District to replace fellow Republican Roy Wilt, who was retiring. Despite the district's conservative character, Robbins faced a strong challenge from businessmen and Meadville city Councilman Charles W. Flynn, who hoped to ride the coattails of popular Governor Bob Casey to victory."Casey Pushes to Tip Senate Control, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 2, 1990, B05 However, despite Casey's overwhelming victory over state Auditor General

Barbara Hafer Barbara Hafer (born August 1, 1943) is an American politician and convicted felon from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She served as a member of the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County County commission, Board of Commissioners from ...

, Robbins prevailed, and has faced little serious opposition since. Robbins rose through the ranks of Senate Republicans to become Majority Caucus Secretary. In 2006, he was one of the only members of the Senate leadership to be re-elected after voter anger at the 2005 legislative pay raise knocked out several members of the leadership, including Senate President Pro Tempore

Robert Jubelirer Robert C. Jubelirer (born February 9, 1937, Altoona, Pennsylvania) is a Republican political leader in Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1975 to 2006. He served as President pro tempore of the Pennsylvan ...

and Senate Majority Leader

David J. Brightbill David J. "Chip" Brightbill (born November 3, 1943) is a former member and Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to Jonathan and Verda (McGill) Brightbill a ...

. Robbins most recently served as vice chairman of the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee, and also serves as chairman of the bipartisan Local Government Commission, vice chairman of the Athletic Oversight Committee, and a member of the Keystone State Games Commission.

References

External links

Pennsylvania State Senate profileSenator Robbins
official caucus website
Robbins for Senate
official campaign website {{DEFAULTSORT:Robbins, Robert D. 1944 births Living people Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican Party Pennsylvania state senators People from Greenville, Pennsylvania Politicians from Mercer County, Pennsylvania United States Army officers United States Military Academy alumni Military personnel from Pennsylvania