Willie Robinson

Name: Willie Robinson
Birth Name: William Knox Robinson
Hometown: San Francisco, California, USA
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
Died: 1960-06-08 (Age:68)
Pro Boxer: Record

In the March 14, 1933 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle, there was an article about Willie Robinson written by the longtime Chronicle sports editor and sportswriter, Harry B. Smith. At the time that the article was written, Willie, at the age of 41 years old, was a grandfather, worked in a brother's grocery store and had a daughter name Mrs. "Dorothy" Tischbern, who gained local fame as a swimmer as a youngster. Although Robinson has sometimes been reported as the brother of Salinas Jack Robinson, there wasn't any mention in the article about Willie having a brother who also was a boxer. In reality the two fighters were not related as Salinas Jack's true last name was Robertson and neither of Willie Robinson's two brothers was named John or Jack.

According to the U.S. Census Records database on Ancestry.com, one William Robinson, a 48-year-old native of California, was living with his wife, Sophie; his 28-year-old daughter, Doris Tischbern; a son-in-law and two grandsons in San Francisco during 1940. Robinson worked as a bottler in a brewery, earning $1,500. during 1939, and owned his home valued at $5,500. William, Sophie and Doris (unmarried at the time) lived in the same home during 1930. He was working as a grocery clerk at the time.

According to the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 database on Ancestry.com, one William Knox Robinson was born on March 29, 1892 in San Francisco, California and worked at Rainier Brewery. He was 5 feet, seven inches tall, weighed 150 pounds and had blond hair. Note- At the time, Robinson was living at same address that he did during 1930 and 1940. Harry B. Smith remembered Robinson as a tow-headed boxer.

According to the Find A Grave website, William Knox Robinson was born in California on March 29, 1892 and died in Napa County, California on June 8, 1960. He and his wife, Sophie, were buried in the Cyprus Lawn Memorial Park, which is located in Colma, California.

- Chuck Johnston