Profile

Senator Robert D. Robbins represents the residents of the 50th Senatorial District, which includes all of Crawford and Mercer Counties and portions of Butler and Lawrence Counties.

Senator Robbins was first elected to the Senate in 1990 and currently holds the Leadership position of Majority Caucus Secretary. He presently serves as Vice Chairman of the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Banking & Insurance, Game & Fisheries, Local Government, and Rules & Executive Nominations. He also serves as Chairman of the bipartisan Local Government Commission, Vice-Chairman of the Athletic Oversight Committee, and a member of the Keystone State Games Commission.

During his service in the Senate, he has chaired the Game & Fisheries, Local Government and Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committees. Major legislative accomplishments include the creation of the Department of Community & Economic Development and the Center for Local Government Services, the National Guard Education Assistance Program and the Athletic Agent Registration Act. Prior to his election to the Pennsylvania Senate, he served in the House of Representatives from 1983-90.

The Senator graduated from Greenville High School in 1962 and the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1966. The Senator completed two tours of duty in Vietnam and received over a dozen medals for his service to his country including the Soldier's Medal for Heroism, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, Army Commendation Medals for Valor and the Combat Infantry Badge. He served as Company Commander with D Company, 501st Airborne Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Robbins was honorably discharged in 1971 from the Army with the rank of Captain.

After returning from service, Robbins obtained his teaching certificate from Geneva College in 1973. Robbins taught and was head wrestling coach at Greenville High School. The Senator was also an insurance agent for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Senator Robbins is involved in many community and civic organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (Lt. Colonel), Stoney Point Grange, NRA, Adelphic Lodge No. 424, F&AM, American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Mercer County Vietnam Veterans Association, and La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux.

He has received numerous awards for his commitment to the community, state and country. Some of these include:

Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award – 2004
Chapel of Four Chaplain's LEGION OF HONOR
Pennsylvania National Guard Hall of Fame – Inaugural Inductee
Pennsylvania's Meritorious Medal
"Charles Dick Medal of Merit", National Guard Association of the United States
Pennsylvania National Guard Association "Order of Benjamin Franklin"
Pennsylvania Air National Guard's Hall of Fame inductee
Small Business Administration's PA Veterans Advocate of the Year - 2003
American Legislative Exchange Council's prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award "Outstanding Legislative Leader"
PA Association of Township Supervisors "Founder's Award"
PA Association League of Cities Public Service Award
PA State Association of Elected County Officials "Virgil F. Puskarich Award" - 2005
PA Association of School Retirees "Outstanding Legislator's Award", 2 years
Mercer County Sports Hall of Fame inductee
Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee
National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee as "Outstanding Pennsylvanian"
Pennsylvania Wrestling Federation's "Man of the Year"
Inductee - National High School Coaches Association - 2006
Meadville Area Industrial Commission Winslow Award
Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV Labor & Management Committee's "Distinguished Service Award"
2007 PA State Association of County Fairs "Legislator of the Year" award

Senator Robbins and his wife, Cindy, reside in Salem Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.