Roland Grover Robison, Jr., died of natural causes on December 12, 2014, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the age of 85.
Roland was a long-time figure in the U.S. Department of Interior. He served as deputy assistant Secretary of Interior, deputy director of the Bureau of Land Management, and associate solicitor—all in Washington, D.C. He served as director of the Upper Colorado Region of the Bureau of Reclamation and director of the Bureau of Land Management for Utah in Salt Lake City. He also served as administrative assistant to U.S. Congressman Laurence J. Burton of Utah, chief of staff to Utah Governor George D. Clyde and deputy and assistant attorney general for the State of Utah.
He was a high priest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His church callings included bishop, stake high councilor, member of the Aaronic Priesthood Young Men General Board and missionary in Uruguay, South America.
He was sealed to Joyce Marion Jackman in the Salt Lake Temple. She died in 1985. They had four much-cherished children: Ann Robison (who died soon after birth); and three who survive: Christopher Jackman Robison (Jennifer) of Draper, Elizabeth Robison Doxey (Stephen) of Holladay, and Alexander James Robison (Juliann) of Gilbert, Arizona. Roland is also survived by 12 adored grandchildren and his brother Robert W. Robison (Susan) of Bountiful. He was also married for a time to Lynda Elizabeth Dubrow.
Roland was born on March 24, 1929, in Morgan, Utah, the son of Roland Grover Robison, Sr., and Elizabeth Toone Wilde. His mother died when he was a child and he was reared by a kind and generous stepmother, Thelma Moffat Robison. He spent his early years in Morgan and Ogden, Utah and Afton, Wyoming. He graduated from Weber College, Brigham Young University and the University of Utah College of Law. He served in the U.S. Army for two years, stationed in Massachusetts and Germany.
In 1989 President George H.W. Bush awarded Mr. Robison the rank of Distinguished Executive, the highest award given to federal senior executives. He also received the U.S. Department of Interior's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, in 1987. He testified before committees of the U.S. Congress. He engaged in private consulting for some years after his retirement from federal service in 1994.
Roland had a great love of natural resources, history, books, politics, sports and the LDS Church. He enjoyed mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, river rafting, exploring the canyons and deserts of the West, visiting historical sites, and generally making things interesting and fun wherever he went. He loved Grand Teton National Park and climbed the Grand Teton in 1965. He traveled all over the world, and especially loved his trip to China. At age 71, he hiked to the base camp of Mount Everest. He loved singing, convertible sports cars and road trips. Henry David Thoreau said, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Roland Robison was not one of those; he lived a full and remarkable life.
Funeral services will be held at the Monument Park 12th Ward building, 2795 E. Crestview Drive (1010 S.), Salt Lake City, at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2014. Friends may call at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, or at the ward building from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday prior to the service. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery, Salt Lake City.
