2017 COD Award Program

Special Tribute to
JIM ROBINSON
James T. Robinson, Jr. was born February 10, 1933 in New York, NY. When asked where
he was from, he would proudly respond, “Harlem, USA!” At a young age and on his own,
he felt led to visit churches around the area near his home until he found a mentor and
church home with Rev. James H. Robinson, social justice activist and pastor of Harlem’s
Morningside Presbyterian Church. His demeanor and integrity earned him the nickname
“Gentleman Jim.”
He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. After returning home,
he attained a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Journalism from the City University
of New York (CUNY). He accepted a position with the Fidesta Company (a division of
Firestone) as Advertising Manager that moved him to Columbus, Ohio in 1964. In 1968,
he was hired by F. & R. Lazarus and Company as Urban Affairs Director and as Assistant
to the Vice President of Credit Sales Promotion – winning
accolades for innovation in advertising and marketing from
his colleagues on Madison Avenue.
His journalism career included the development of the Columbus Communicator News,
as well as serving as its first Editor in Chief. He has also been a columnist for numerous
newspapers over the years, including The Columbus Dispatch, The Citizen-Journal,
The Call and Post, Columbus Post, and Business First (Columbus), to name a few.
Jim Robinson’s radio career included hosting talk radio on WVKO, a weekly jazz show
on WJZA, and voiceovers on multiple stations. He is most notably known for his 12
years of daily commentary on WCKX in the 1990’s, “Rich, Black Thought.” He was quite
often referred to as “The Voice.”
He was instrumental in revitalizing activity around Mt. Vernon
Plaza, with promotions of businesses such as Don-Nita’s and the Marble Gang, as well as
the coordination of events that brought national recording artists to the Focal Point. During
this time in the 1980’s, the office of James T. Robinson Marketing Services (JTRMS) was
located there.
Jim taught us to give to our community first and ourselves second. He served as a member
of the Federal Task Force Against Drug Abuse under Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, and
Bush and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Drug Abuse, advocating to treat drug abuse
as an illness first and a crime second. UHURU on Nelson Rd. (a Residential Intervention
and Rehabilitation Center and Halfway House for first time, nonviolent offenders) was his
brainchild. He was instrumental in developing the center and bringing his vision to fruition in
1972, along with the board of Blacks Against Drugs (BAD). During its prime, it was rated number 1 in the state and
in the top 10 in the nation.
He worked on hundreds of community campaigns with print, TV, and radio commercials and PSAs. Public Issue
campaigns included Jim Robinson’s Pen and ‘the Voice’. He was a public speaker, Master of Ceremonies, and
coordinator for countless events and was instrumental in bringing national speakers and entertainment to Columbus.
He made the Keep Columbus Beautiful Campaign the final straw in his hat, providing a voice and a bridge from
City Hall to local celebrities and organizations, including the Columbus Clippers, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the
Columbus Crew, and The Ohio State University Buckeye Sports Teams.
15 • 7 th Annual Champions of Diversity Awards Luncheon