The Tonkawa High School (THS) Board of Directors for the Alumni Association has named Bruce Robinson as the 2021 Distinguished Alumni. Bruce was a teacher, farmer, business man, and community activist. He joined the Oklahoma National Guard in 1957 and served six years, retiring as a Sergeant. Bruce graduated Tonkawa High School in 1958 and from Northern Oklahoma College in 1960. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education at University of Oklahoma in 1963 and began his teaching career at Star Spencer High School. He taught there until his return to Tonkawa to manage the Starlight Lanes Bowling Alley and farm his family’s “home place.” Bruce later purchased a water well business and changed the name of the company to Robinson Water Well Drilling, which he operated for 40 years. Bruce also functioned as a construction inspector for CGA Engineers, Inc., Tulsa; Chapman, Cottle, Gill and Associates, Inc., Ponca City; and Willis Engineering Consultants, Blackwell. He retired from drilling water wells and 42 years of farming in 2002.

Bruce first became interested in civic affairs and serving his community over 45 years ago when elected to the Tonkawa City Council, where he served three terms, two of those as Mayor. He subsequently served the city as chairman of the Planning & Zoning Committee and the Beautification Committee. In 2007, the Kay County Justice Facilities Authority elected Bruce chairman. He stayed in that position seven years before stepping into the vicechairman position, where he was serving at the time of his death in 2020.

Bruce served as a director of the Co-op Board for 15 years and was president two of those years. He was a member of various committees and organizations including: President of the THS Alumni Scholarship Fund committee, member of the Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce, Kay County ASCS committee, OK Water Well Association and National Water Well Associa tion. The Chamber of Commerce presented him the Life Time Award for service in 2010. A park bench presented by The Tonkawa Pride Committee to honor Bruce sits in front of Centennial Park. His leadership in the THS Alumni Association over the years increased the financial investments that support the Alumni scholarships. In 2020, scholarships were designated “The 2020 Bruce Robinson THS Alumni Scholarship” in his memory and in honor of his commitment to the Alumni Association.

Bruce belonged to the Christian Life Church functioning as a Sunday school teacher, Elder, Deacon, Board Chairman, and Trustee. He took part in the church’s several mission trips to an orphanage in Guadalupe, Mexico and served on the board of directors for the sponsoring organization, Mexico Multiple Missions. Other mission trips were to Russia and Romania.

Bruce’s parents were Clyde and Martha Pickard Robinson. He married Judy McComas in 1961. A daughter, Kelsey, was born to them in 1962 and then a son, Kyle, was born in 1964. He and Judy have five grandchildren.