Colorado High School Activities Association associate commissioner Tom Robinson passed away Monday morning following a short battle with multiple diagnoses.
“Beyond the impact Tom has made in this Association, our state and nationally over the course of his 30-plus year career as a coach, teacher, administrator, white hat referee, Hall of Famer, Big 12 replay expert, husband, father and grandfather, we are all better people for having had Tom in our lives,” CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said.
Hired by former commissioner Bob Ottewill, Robinson was the first African-American administrator in the history of CHSAA.
For 20 years at CHSAA, Robinson oversaw officials – the first administrator in CHSAA history to assign a female official to a boys basketball Final Four – and the sportsmanship program, as well as boys and girls golf. He was an institution and a role model at the Association, and was widely respected throughout the entire membership for his exceptional passion and integrity.
“Tom was an inspiration in so many ways,” CHSAA assistant commissioner Bethany Brookens said. “He taught me how to play golf, he and Cleo taught us all how to have a wonderful and successful marriage, he taught me the officials mechanics for basketball and he gave me loyal friendship and a respect for all people. An incredible, ethical, good man and mentor; I miss Tom greatly already.”
Robinson was a graduate of Regis Jesuit High School. He attended Colorado State University, where he competed in football, basketball and track and field. After graduating in 1969, he began officiating that summer and started his first full teaching contract at Regis Jesuit in 1969. Robinson taught math and coached multiple sports – head basketball coach from 1983-93 – at the same school for 31 years before becoming a CHSAA assistant commissioner in 2001.
Robinson was also the president of the National Association of Sports Officials and the replay coordinator for the Big-12 Conference. Robinson announced on Dec. 15, 2021, that he would be retiring at the end of the school year.
The impact of Robinson’s death will be felt for many years to come, but his compassion and dedication have left a lasting legacy and he will serve as a shining example for all those in the Assocation to follow.
“Even from the outside looking in, Tom was definitely a person to aspire to be,” said Rashaan Davis, CHSAA’s first-ever assistant commissioner overseeing activities. “He always seemed cool, calm and collected, which is something I know I needed. So, to be a staff member now and understand that Tom laid the foundation for me being a black male working at CHSAA and to be an educator coming into this role, to be patient and recognizing all voices at this level is very powerful. I don’t think anybody did it better.
“It feels like standing on the shoulders of a giant and hopefully the work we all do will continue his legacy.”
Robinson is survived by his wife, Cleo Parker-Robinson, founder and director of Cleo Parker-Robinson Dance, and his son, Malik Robinson, executive director of Cleo Parker-Robinson Dance.
