Lobo Track Mourns Passing of Alum Clarence Robinson

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico Athletic Department and track & field program are saddened by the loss of former Lobo track great, Clarence Robinson, who passed away March 19, 2017 at the age of 74. He was born April 9, 1942 in Atlanta, Mississippi, and leaves behind a sister, Bessie Lamar of Oklahoma City.

Robinson, who grew up in East Chicago, Indiana, starred for the Lobos in the horizontal jumps during the mid-1960s, sweeping the national titles in the long jump and triple jump at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Competing during a dominant run of success for the UNM track & field program, Robinson was a force for the Lobos in the jumps.

Along with his NCAA victories in the horizontal jumps in 1965, Robinson also swept the long jump and triple jump at the 1963, 1965 and 1966 Western Athletic Conference Championships.

He also set the New Mexico record in the outdoor long jump at 26 feet, 9 ¼ inches at the 1965 Drake Relays. His mark still stands today as the school record, and helped Robinson achieve the second-best mark in the world in 1965.

In 1966, Robinson placed eighth in both horizontal jumps at the AAU Championships — the precursor to the USA Track & Field Championships — finishing the year ranked No. 4 in the world in the long jump. He also represented the New Mexico Track & Field Club at the 1967 AAU Championships.

Robinson was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. MT on Saturday, August 5, at the Lobo Pavilion in Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM. Teammates and friends would like to thank French Funerals and Cremations for their assistance with and contribution in honoring Clarence’s life and legacy.  In lieu of flowers, contributions towards services can be made to the Clarence Robinson Memorial Trust at Mountain America Credit Union, 9200 Golf Course Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87114.