Representative Howard Winfield Robison

Howard Winfield Robison (October 30, 1915 – September 26, 1987) was an American attorney and Republican politician from New York who served as a Representative in the United States Congress from 1957 to 1975, holding office through nine terms during a significant period in American history. Over the course of his congressional career, he participated actively in the legislative process and represented the interests of his New York constituents in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Robison was born in Owego, Tioga County, New York, on October 30, 1915, the son of Addison J. Robison and Pluma (Moe) Robison. He was educated in the public schools of Owego and graduated from Owego Free Academy. He then attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937. Continuing at Cornell, he earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Cornell Law School in 1939. Shortly after completing his legal studies, he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in his hometown of Owego.

With the onset of World War II, Robison entered military service. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army and, after completing his initial training, was assigned to the Counterintelligence Corps (CIC). He served as a CIC investigator from 1942 until his discharge in 1946, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. Following his return from military service, Robison resumed the practice of law in Owego, building on his prewar legal career and becoming increasingly active in local public affairs.

A committed Republican, Robison quickly moved into local and county government. He served as county attorney of Tioga County, New York, from 1946 to 1957, providing legal counsel to the county government in the immediate postwar years. At the same time, he was a member of the Owego town board from 1947 to 1956, participating in the administration of local government. In 1957 and 1958 he served as Owego’s town attorney, further solidifying his reputation as a public lawyer and community leader. His experience in local and county offices laid the groundwork for his subsequent election to national office.

Robison entered Congress in 1958, when he was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Representative W. Sterling Cole. He took his seat on January 14, 1958. He was then reelected every two years from November 1958 through November 1972, serving continuously until January 3, 1975. Over the course of these nine terms, he represented his New York district during a transformative era that encompassed the Cold War, the civil rights movement, and the Vietnam War. As a member of the House of Representatives, Howard Winfield Robison participated in the democratic process, contributed to the legislative work of the chamber, and advocated for the interests of his constituents.

During his congressional service, Robison took notable positions on major civil rights legislation. He voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, which strengthened federal enforcement of voting rights; the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed segregation and discrimination in public accommodations and employment; and the Civil Rights Act of 1968, including the Fair Housing Act provisions. He also supported the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibited poll taxes in federal elections, and voted for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a key measure to protect and enforce the voting rights of African Americans and other minority citizens. These votes placed him among those Republicans who backed the central civil rights measures of the era.

After leaving Congress at the conclusion of his final term on January 3, 1975, Robison continued his involvement in public policy through the private sector. He became vice president for congressional relations at the American Railroad Association, where he drew on his legislative experience to represent the interests of the railroad industry before Congress and federal agencies. In his later years, he resided in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, while maintaining ties to his native Owego.

In his personal life, Robison married Gertrude L. “Trudy” Frederick in 1946. The couple remained married until his death and were the parents of two sons. Howard Winfield Robison died in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on September 26, 1987. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Owego, New York, returning in death to the community where he had been born, educated, and first established himself as an attorney and public servant.