Robert Lynn Robertson Sr., a newspaperman who wrote about Washington County news and politics for nearly 40 years, died Friday, July 24, 1998. He was 62. "I remember he was competent, interesting and an interested person," said Washington County President Judge Thomas D. Gladden. "He was always glad to see you on the streets and he always had a nice word to say. He was always inquisitive." He was born July 17, 1936, in Washington, a son of the late George S. and Mary Bennington Robertson. He was a 1954 graduate of Washington High School. After his graduation from Washington and Jefferson College in 1958, he studied for a year at Ohio University's School of Journalism before joining the staff of theWashington Observer in 1959. He left the paper to work for a string of weekly papers in Philadelphia, and later the Jeannette News-Dispatch before returning to the Observer Publishing Co. in 1963. He worked at the paper's Canonsburg office before taking his assignment at the courthouse in 1965. Later in his career, he became business editor and Sunday editor of the Observer-Reporter. He left the paper in 1989 to devote more time to his own business, the Bassettown Deli. In recent years, he wrote articles for the Washington edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I appreciated his thorough news coverage of city matters but also his involvement in community activities," said Washington Mayor L. Anthony Spossey. "We are going to miss him in this area." He wrote a book, "Fight onto Victory" about the Washington High School football teams. Robertson was a member of Sunset Lodge 623, F&AM, and Washington Lions Club. He was also a member of First Christian Church of Washington, where he served as an elder and deacon. For several years, he was active as manager and coach in the Washington Youth Baseball program and for many years helped in the press box as a scorekeeper and clock operator for W&J football games. He was married Sept. 5, 1964, to Shirley Sargent, who survives. Also surviving are three children, Becky, George and Robert L. Jr.; and a sister, Patricia Humbert of Washington. Copyright ©1998 Observer Publishing Co.Last updated Saturday, July 25, 1998Bob Robertson
Long-time newspaperman, dies at age 62
Few people knew more about Washington County politics than Robertson, who covered the county courthouse for the Observer-Reporter for more than 15 years. He covered one of the biggest stories in county history - the Yablonski murders and the trials that followed - since it broke in January 1970.