Homer Rufus Robinson

Homer R. Robinson holds the distinction of being the first executive director of the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System. He was chosen to administer the System in February 1947, having previously served as the Chief of the Audits and Inspection Division of the Department of Revenue. Robinson was selected from among 30 applicants for the position, after each was given a written exam and oral interview.

C.J. Winters, a member of the Board of Trustees said, “As the first administrator of the new system, he faces a difficult task, that of putting into operation a retirement plan which will affect the security of thousands. Employees will be glad to know that their interests are in the most capable hands.” Archival newspaper clippings indicate that Robinson gave a series of talks educating new members of the System about eligibility, benefit calculations, service credit, and many of the same topics that we discuss in our modern PREP workshops.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HOMER:

  • He was born in Illinois, but moved to the Lake Charles, Louisiana area with his family at a young age.
  • He was a football star at Tulane University, playing center, and earning All-Southeastern Conference honors 1933-1934 and varsity lettering 1932-1934.
  • He was on the Southeastern Conference winning team in 1934, which also won the inaugural Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day 1935, defeating Temple University. “Home,” as he was known on the team, suffered a fractured skull after a head-on collision in the game.
  • He was also an honors student at Tulane, and belonged to Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity, Tulane’s Young Men’s Christian Association as a cabinet member, and was elected to Omicron Delta Kappa, a national honorary leadership fraternity.
  • Graduated from Tulane with a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education in 1935.
  • Shortly after graduation, he married Christine Fontenot, the daughter of the Collector of Revenue for the State of Louisiana.
  • He served for three years in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a warrant officer, 1943-1946.

Robinson left the state retirement system in September 1949, and even though he had a relatively short history as administrator, he set the stage for the future of LASERS.  Many of the policies established for the System have survived and have been improved upon over the years.

Homer Robinson passed away in 1982 in Houston, Texas, but he will long be remembered as a dedicated public servant, veteran, and stellar collegiate football player.

Homer Robinson and teammates [1934]

Sugar Bowl Program [1935]

Newspaper Clipping [1947]