Eugene "Robby" Robinson

Eugene Robinson, age 97, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2024, after a life well lived. He will be remembered as an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. His favorite stomping grounds stretched from the northeast corridor of Colorado to the Wyoming and Kansas state lines. He loved getting out into nature and experiencing the beauty of spending time with family and friends. He taught his children how to sleep under the stars, bait a hook, reel in a 20 lb carp, clean our own catch, shoot any type of gun or rifle, and recognize the baying of our hounds and his holloa on a hunt.

Eugene always had stories, and tales, of growing up in the Five Points and Curtis Park neighborhoods and spending summers with his sisters and brother in Wichita, KS. He played baseball and basketball with his cousins, Ben and Lindy Rountree, at the Whittier Rec Center and Manual High School. He was drafted into the US Army in 1945 and proudly served in General Patton's 3rd Army. He kept his uniform patch (an A inside of an O, designating “the army of occupation”). Upon returning from Germany, he attended Denver's Metropolitan State College, pursuing a degree in Forestry studies.

On September 30, 1950, Eugene was one of twenty-four rookie patrolmen who completed three weeks’ study in the Denver Police Academy. His badge number was 50-50, meaning he was the 50th patrolman to have graduated from the Denver Police Academy in the year 1950. Upon completing the police academy, he married the beautiful and smart, Lorraine Lampkin on October 20, 1950, to which 6 children would be born. He was proud of his service as a Denver Police Officer from 1950-1988. He was known by the nickname “Robby” short for Robinson and as “50-50" by his fellow officers. He spoke of the lessons and challenges (good and bad) of being a police officer in the 1950s through the 1980s. He would often say "the mantra of to serve and protect is nothing unless you have pride, integrity and guts." He often spoke of the fellow officers he worked beside, trained and the lifelong friendships that developed. Eugene was stoic when hearing of the passing of those of whom he served. Still, when asked if he would have changed anything in his career or life, his response was always "not a damn thing" and said with a chuckle.

Eugene and Lorraine shared the story, (it was in the Rocky Mtn News on July 19, 1952) “... a Denver patrolman and another man were shot last night during a street fight and robbery in the 2600 block of W. Colfax ave. The patrolman was Eugene Robinson, 25. He was taken to Denver General Hospital suffering from a small caliber bullet wound in his right arm." For Lorraine, this was the first of many incidents that would keep her awake

at night throughout her husband’s career. This cemented her love, support and devotion to a man in blue. But, for Eugene, it was just another day on the job and knowing Lorraine was forever by his side.

Eugene was very proud of his children and grandchildren and of their successes and life choices. He was an early health-nut enthusiast before it became main-stream cool; instilling the importance of taking care of mind and body, daily vitamins and eating healthy. He was an avid reader of health and well-being books and kept his mind active by visiting with family, watching football games, old cowboy movies and enjoying the simple pleasures of everyday life.

Eugene was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, his wife, Lorraine, his sons, Eugene Jr and Daniel Robinson, and his daughter, Margaret Daniels. He is survived by two daughters, Anna Robinson and Debra Lucas, a son, Matthew Robinson, six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone who ever met him.