Spottswood William Robinson, III was born in Richmond, Virginia on July 26, 1916. As a young man, Spottswood Robinson had two heroes, his father and his grandfather. Actually, he idolized his grandfather, who had been born into slavery, yet persevered and later became a successful businessman. He has said that his grandfather and father were strong influences in his life.
             He went to Virginia Union University when he was the age of 17. When he finished his studies there he then attended Howard University School of Law. His professors became his new heroes because they helped him to see the law as a means of solving the basic problems of American society. For Robinson, these new things became a challenge that gave his life purpose. In 1939 he graduated first in his class. According to Harry T. Edwards, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, "Robinson graduated from Howard Law School with what is still reputed to be the highest scholastic average in the school's history."
             The men who taught and inspired him were great lawyers of the time. Their names were William Hastie, George E.C. Hayes, Charles Houston, Bernard S. Jefferson, W. R. Ming, James M. Nabrit, Jr. and Leon A. Ransom. After graduation Robinson became a faculty member of the Howard University School of Law from 1939 until 1947. He also, along with his mentors and another group of Howard-trained Attorneys Thurgood Marshall, Oliver Hill, Arthur Shores and C. Wolden met at Howard or in nearby cities to assist each other in preparing civil rights cases. They were a marvelous group of men who unselfishly gave time and knowledge to the cause of civil rights. At various times, Robinson was an instructor, professor and also a partner in the law firm of Hill, Martin and Robinson in Richmond.
             Robinson was one of the core attorneys of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund from 1948 to 1960. Through the NAACP Robinson worked on important civil rights cases including ...