William King Robbins, Jr.

Born in Texas on November 29, 1931 to Helen and William King Robbins, Sr., Bill lived his childhood and adolescent years in Reagan, Texas and Baytown, Texas. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, Texas in 1949. He then set sail for Baylor University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Juris Doctor.

Bill served in the military and was a Korean War Veteran. He was also a lawyer and entrepreneur with experience in a variety of businesses including valve manufacturing, oil and gas exploration and production, plastics, leasing, automobile and heavy truck dealerships, insurance, hotel development, and tree farming.

He was founder and CEO of North American Corporation, which originated in 1971. Headquartered in Houston, North American principally engages in consulting, finance, investments, and oil, gas and energy activities. In his early years, he served as an officer and director of various international subsidiary companies of Union Carbide Corporation and as legal counsel for Humble Oil and Refining Company (now Exxon Corporation).

Throughout his journey, Bill served on the boards for several United States and foreign corporations and was also a trustee of several foundations in the United States, Canada, Japan and India. He was a member of the State Bar of Texas, State Bar of New York, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Tax Court, as well as several U.S. District Courts and Circuit Court of Appeals. At Baylor, he was a member of the Endowed Scholarship Society, the Bear Foundation, the Old Main Society, the 1845 Society and the Heritage Club. He was also a life member of the Baylor Law Alumni Association, as well as a member of the Honors College Advisory Council, the Hankamer School of Business Robbins Institute for Health Policy and Leadership Advisory Council, the Robbins College of Health and Human Services Board of Advocates and the Baylor University Foundation Board. Bill also served on the Baylor University Board of Regents. In addition, he served on the Board of Trustees at Baylor College of Medicine where he was a member of the Finance, Investment, and several other Committees.

Traveling for both business and pleasure was always a big part of Bill’s life. While he was a proud Texan, he also had a true love for Canada and spent much of his life in the province of Alberta. He was known for flying both flags all over the world. Dedicated to making the world a better place through his gracious spirit and kind heart, Bill possessed a passion for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, educating people of all ages and backgrounds, and helping to reach out to those who were sick or in need. His philanthropic efforts through The Robbins Foundation spanned the globe. He devoted much of his time and energy to the North American group of companies and to performing good works through The Robbins Foundation.

As a dedicated patron of Baylor University, Bill’s areas of contribution included the Honors College, the Law School, Robbins Chapel, Memorial Chapel, Baylor Athletics, the Robbins Institute for Health Policy and Leadership, the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, and the Mary Jo Robbins Clinic for Autism Research and Practice. The Robbins Institute encompasses multiple academic avenues including the Robbins MBA Healthcare Program, a Ph.D. in Health Services Research, and healthcare administration specializations within the Executive MBA programs in Dallas and Austin. He also supported Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center- Hillcrest in Waco, and the Baylor Louise Herrington School of Nursing in Dallas.

At the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Canada, Bill, Mary Jo and The Robbins Foundation established and continue to sustain healthcare facilities and programs located in the Robbins Pavilion, including endowed research in cardiology and women’s health, an Inner-City Health Initiative, and lectures on a broad range of public health topics. The Robbins Pavilion also houses the Robbins Learning Centre, the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, the Robbins Chapel and Bell Tower and the CK Hui Heart Centre.

At Grant MacEwan University in Canada, the Foundation supports the School of Nursing and other health management undertakings located in the Robbins Healthcare Learning Centre. Other areas of patronage in Canada include the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Citadel Theatre, the Boys and Girls Club Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton, little league baseball and hockey teams for boys and girls and various other endeavors.

Supporting various mission endeavors was important to Bill, but he was particularly involved in the start-up of pioneer mission work. He served as a Baptist Deacon and trustee in various churches throughout his life. Bill was a member of Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, Texas at the time of his death.

Bill also contributed to multiple churches, Bible projects, camps, and missions as well as various artistic pursuits and sports ministries worldwide. He provided funding for numerous chapels in both Texas and Canada. Additional areas of involvement and interest include Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston Christian University, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and various autism and other research endeavors and events across the globe. As a believer in the power of a solid education, he funded innumerable scholarships for those who wished to better themselves by pursuing a higher education.

Known for his meticulous nature and outspoken opinions, he taught those around him to pursue their dreams (at any age) and to be thankful for all of God’s blessings. Bill impacted many lives with his compassion and friendship. His family and friends particularly enjoyed listening to his stories from the past and were often amazed at all of the details he could remember from years and years ago.

For fun and relaxation, Bill took great delight in attending various sporting events in Houston and Waco, going to the symphony, and listening to classical music. His sense of humor and contagious laugh brought a smile to everyone’s face. He possessed a true zest for life and learning. The countless people who were blessed to call him friend are evidence of how Bill touched so many lives with his love and guidance.

Anyone who knew Bill also knew that he had a life-long love affair with ice cream and took great pride in stocking his freezers with Blue Bell (among other brands). He was known to have up to fifteen different flavors on hand at any time and could readily provide his ever changing “top five” and “top ten” at the drop of a hat. He also loved Christmas, undoubtedly his favorite time of year. At his request, the lights and decorations were known to go up in early November and stay up until at least mid-January. He was truly like a kid in a candy store with anything that would light up, play music, or was motion activated! One could often hear him whistling Christmas songs year-round, even in the brutal heat of summer.

Bill excelled at just about everything he did and loved to read anything he could get his hands on. He believed it was important to always put your best foot forward. There was always a new adventure around the corner for Bill as he believed that “idleness is the devil’s workshop.” He lived his life to the fullest with integrity and diligence to the very end.

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Huey Robbins, and their three children, Cynthia K. Robbins, Jackson Gorman and wife Cheryl Scoglio, and Crystal Baird. They have two grandchildren, Halen Ray Baird and Riley Nicole Baird. The Robbins also have an “adopted” son, Zafar Naqvi, an “adopted” daughter, Hannah Chandler and husband Stephen Chandler as well as two “adopted” grandsons, Quinten Swift and Archie Daniel Chandler. They also have many other “adopted” sons, daughters, and grandchildren who they have loved and nurtured throughout their lives.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 20th from 5:00-6:00 pm for family only and from 6:00-8:00 pm for the public at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home in the Grand Chapel, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas 77023. The funeral service will take place on Friday, April 21st from 11:00 am to noon at Tallowood Baptist Church, 555 Tallowood Road, Houston, Texas 77024 with a reception immediately following. A burial service will take place at 3:00 pm at the Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas 77023. Reverend Kenneth Hall and Reverend Duane Brooks will officiate the funeral and burial services. Pallbearers will be Sergi Bernal, Stephen Chandler, Valdo Barba, Andre Cisne, Ariel Cisne and Paul Krenzer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s name to The Robbins Foundation, 4265 San Felipe, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77027, Tallowood Baptist Church, 555 Tallowood Rd, Houston, Texas 77024 or to a charity of your choice. To send condolences, visit www.forestparklawndalefh.com.

When asked what he would like to be included in his obituary, Bill stated, “He was born, he lived, and he died.” The only problem with that is that a life well lived deserves recognition and honor. This obituary is but a small window into Bill’s life and the impact he made through all that he did with it during his time here on earth. It seems fitting to close this window with the words of one of Bill’s most loved hymns as we celebrate a man who truly made the most of his life each and every day and counted each and every blessing along the way… “I’ll fly away O glory, I’ll fly away! When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away!”