Sometimes in life, men and women will have a great opportunity to meet that special individual who can make a difference in our lives. For me, that person was Bill Robinson.
Robert Tate
Automotive Historian and Researcher
William Robinson was an extraordinary car designer, influential teacher, and devoted servant of God. He graduated from Cass Tech High School and attended the University of Michigan. After graduation, he was employed by the Reynolds Company as an Industrial Designer. He moved to Chrysler Corporation, where he was an Automobile Designer for 32 years. When he retired from Chrysler, he became a professor of transportation design at The College for Creative Studies for 22 years. He received the Educator of the Year Award in 2000.
During his time at Chrysler, Bill made major contributions to the designs of many Chrysler cars. The Plymouth Belmont concept car of 1953 was Bill’s design, he was the lead designer for the 1957 Plymouth, and was sole designer for the 1959 Plymouth. He created the concept for the minivan in the 1970s, years before its introduction in 1984.
Bill became a member of the Presbyterian Church in 1942, joined Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church in 1958, and served as a church school teacher all of his life. He taught an adult Bible study class for over a half century, and led the Bethel Bible Study program of 259 members in 1988. He was a church elder five times and taught Confirmation classes beginning in 1968. He was proud of serving as a confirmation teacher for three generations.
Bill was tour guide for 13 years at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, where was popular with school children participating in the Michigan Education Association’s program for enriching field trips. He was a fan of Big Band Jazz and would travel many miles to enjoy a performance. He had an extensive CD collection which he bequeathed to the Music Department of Wayne State University. He enjoyed high performance cars and working on them to make them faster. He was often challenged to a race by other car owners, and won 90% of the time. He enjoyed boating and owned racing boats which were fast and dangerous. One fast trip sent him to the hospital for weeks. He continued to own a racing boat, but drove it slower after age 80. Bill believed in exercise, good nutrition, and good doctors. This belief helped him to lead a long and healthy life. His hope was that when meeting his Lord he heard “well done good and faithful servant.” Bill was born on August 31, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan and died on February 15, 2022 at the age of 96. He is survived by cousins, nieces and nephews.
