Former Arkansas Congressman and Sheriff Tommy Robinson has died Wednesday at the age of 82.
Tommy Robinson was a colorful and controversial character who was both respected and reviled as an unapologetically tough-on-crime law enforcement officer who never shied away from a camera. Robinson would often stage wild, often profane news conferences to send messages to would-be criminals while building his own unique brand. As Sheriff, Robinson would place his deputies inside random convenience stores, armed with shotguns to deter robberies.
Robinson served in the United States House representing the 2nd Arkansas District from 1984 to 1991. Though he originally ran in the Democrat party, Robinson quickly found himself out-of-step with his constituents, often voting in favor of the GOP. It was during his third term in office that he officially joined the Republican Party. In 1990, Robinson sought the Republican Party’s nomination for governor of Arkansas but lost the primary to Sheffield Nelson.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders reacted to the news of Robinson’s death in a statement to the public, “Bryan and I are mourning the loss of Congressman Robinson, a true legend in Little Rock and our state. Tommy’s career was colorful, but it was colorful in service of the people of Arkansas. He brought much-needed attention to issues like crime and prison overcrowding, and while his methods were sometimes unconventional, they won him admiration from voters to earn a seat in Congress. He was never afraid of a fight. We are praying for Tommy’s family, friends, and admirers. All of us have lost one of the giants of Arkansas politics.”
With the death of Robinson, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin had this to say, “I am saddened by the loss of one of my predecessors in Congress, Tommy Robinson. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he returned to Arkansas to serve his community and the state in various capacities on both sides of the aisle. My prayers are with his family, friends, and former colleagues today.”
The St. Francis County Coroner confirmed that Robinson died Wednesday at a Forest City hospital of unspecified causes.
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