About
A Lifetime of Service to Carroll and the Helena Community
For Bob Robinson ’69, Carroll College has been much more than the place where he earned his degree. It’s where he played football, met his future wife, Louise (Himsl) Robinson ’69, and began a lifelong connection to a community he continues to serve.
Originally recruited to Carroll to play football, Bob spent all four years on the Fighting Saints football team. He also played basketball his freshman year and competed in boxing, even winning a boxing competition. Looking back, he admits that not continuing with basketball is something he still regrets.
Like many Carroll students, Bob balanced academics, athletics, and work. He majored in History, with minors in Business and Education, while working afternoons and Saturdays at Allen Electric, doing everything from cleaning floors to making deliveries and helping with installations.
But perhaps his most meaningful Carroll experience happened in a theology class during his sophomore year, where he met Louise. Bob remembers inviting her to a party, and fortunately, she said yes! The two graduated together in 1969 and have shared a life deeply connected to Carroll ever since.
From the Classroom to State Government
Bob originally dreamed of becoming a coach. After graduation, he and Louise began their careers in education in Fort Benton, Montana, where Bob coached and Louise taught.
They eventually returned to Helena, where Bob taught at the junior high and coached football at Helena High School, along with junior high track.
An opportunity through the National Science Foundation took the young family to the University of Missouri–Columbia, where Bob received a scholarship to complete a one-year master's program in Economics Education. With tuition and a stipend provided, Bob, Louise, and their young daughter, Missy, made the move to Missouri.
The family later welcomed their second child, Benji, who was born in Columbia, Missouri.
After returning to Helena, Bob returned to Helena Junior High continuing to teach and coach. His career eventually took another turn when he entered the Montana state government. Over the years, Bob served in a variety of roles, including Legislative revenue estimator, Administrator of the Energy Division and Natural Resources Department, deputy director, Administrator of Workers' Compensation, was the first Administrator of the Gambling Control Division, and ended his career as Director of the Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences. Bob was proud to have been appointed to roles by both Democratic and Republican governors of Montana.
Looking back, Bob describes his professional journey as a combination of good fortune and opportunities that came along at just the right time.
Giving Back to Carroll
Retirement from the state government didn't mean slowing down. Instead, Bob found new opportunities to give back to the college that had given him so much.
Over the years, he has volunteered at Carroll in numerous capacities, including the Saints Athletic Association, the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and the President's Council.
He also played an important role in major campus improvements, including fundraising efforts for the science building alongside Tom McCarvel and serving on the original Nelson Stadium committee.
Bob remembers the extraordinary generosity of the Helena community during the Nelson Stadium project. As Tom McCarvel once observed, when people kept working toward something good, "angels just kept coming to help."
The stadium became a source of pride, with its original grass playing surface receiving national recognition.
Bob and Louise's commitment to Carroll has extended well beyond their time and talents. Throughout the years, they have also been consistent and generous supporters of the college, helping ensure that future generations of Saints have opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Their dedication reflects a shared belief in the value of a Carroll education and the importance of giving back to a place that has meant so much to their family.
A Family Connected to Carroll
Louise has also made a lasting impact on the Carroll community.
After teaching for several years, she opened The Needle Bug, a needlepoint store she operated for 14 years. She later returned to Carroll as Bookstore Director, serving the college for nearly two decades.
Together, Bob and Louise have built a life rooted in education, service, and community, with Carroll College remaining a constant thread throughout their story. Their two children, Missy and Benji, both attended and graduated from Carroll. Benji played football for the Saints and is now a member of the Carroll College Board of Trustees. Missy met fellow Carroll student Tom McCormick at Carroll, and the two married after graduation. Missy’s daughter Megan is a Carroll graduate as well and played softball for the Saints.
From student-athlete to educator, state government leader, and dedicated Carroll volunteer, Bob's journey is a reminder that the relationships and opportunities formed at Carroll can last a lifetime. And for Bob and Louise, it all began in a theology class more than five decades ago.
