John Robison

8/19/20 pm - I am sorry to inform you that John Robison passed away late last night (8/18/20) of a heart attack.  He and Donna were in Nashville (her cancer treatment) and he woke her up at about 11:00pm and told her that he was having a heart attack, he called 911 before awakening her.  He passed on the way to the hospital.  As I receive more details, I will email you and post what I have on The Xerox914club  

8/20/20 - 8:30am - From Bob Gilbert - I talked to Brad Robison last night and he said his dad was going to be cremated and they have not decided on any plans for a service.  Such a tragic loss for the Roadrunner community.  John was a personal friend as well as a long time business associate.  He will be greatly missed.  

8/20/20 - 8:30am - I spoke with Donna this morning and she also said John will be cremated and she said the arrangements are still being discussed by the family.

8/22/20 - We are all saddened by the loss of John Robison, he was such an outstanding person.  He was someone special and different to each of us, he was inspiring, a friend, manager, leader, teacher, mentor, or simply someone to share and talk with, John was a good listener!  
John just recently learned of a heart problem and was told he needed bypass surgery, he had talked with Paul about it and was trying to decide whether to and when!  John was a "donor" and he was cremated in Nashville, the ashes were sent back to Louisville.  Donna told me they will decide about a memorial of some kind in the future.  She was naturally having a difficult time but family support is good and strong.  


John Robison  (1974)
John Robison (Nov. 2013)
John Robison   
Louisville, KY 
Birthday  11/29
Email:  Click Here

Prior to Xerox my work experience was with Standard Oil for 6 years. I joined Xerox in 1966 as a salesman in Indianapolis and in 1969, was promoted to sales manager and Sales Planning Manager in Milwaukee, then to Area Manager in 1973 when I moved to Evansville and became a “Roadrunner” for the next 10 years.  In 1983 I became the Agent Operations Manager for the Ohio and Kentucky District, which grew, and in 1987 became the Region Manager for the Dealer Channel covering 13 States.  I retired from Xerox in 1993 after 27 great years!
John 2010

In 1992, my son Brad, wife Donna and I founded “XBE” Xerographic Business Equipment located in Indianapolis and Lafayette, Indiana as well as Louisville, Kentucky.  In 2000 we sold Indianapolis and Lafayette to focus and grow the Louisville operation located at 2119 Frankfort Avenue and became a Sharp Electronics Dealer and Xerox Wide Format Dealer. In a 2006 we purchased our competitor “Electric Blueprint & Supply”, a well known local company established in 1916, (thus our current name XBE/Electric Blueprint and Supply), the exclusive Xerox Wide Format (Engineering Equipment) in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

John in 1979
My Hobbies include fishing, reading and as many of you know, I am an avid sports fan.  Donna and I really enjoy traveling and have visited many great places and have many wonderful memories.

Donna and I have been married for 56 years and have two sons, Steve and Brad.  Steve and his wife Juliet reside in Lexington and have given us two wonderful grandchildren.  Brad and his wife Mary Ellen live in Louisville and have also given us two wonderful grandchildren.


Some of my greatest memories are the Louisville Branch and Marc Eisner’s team of Xerox Thoroughbreds in 1974.  Also, the 1974 Kickoff and the “Roadrunner Challenge”, “The Silver Horseshoe”, “The Derby Blitz”, The Awards, Churchill Downs and The Oaks!  I have many great memories of the Evansville Roadrunners and all of the people that made the Louisville Branch and Evansville ASO so Great!  Those were great times!   
Evansville Roadrunners
*Missing are Pete Arnold and David Doll.


Everyone should look at this "security" video !Click Here

13 comments:

Diana Troutman said...

Oh goodness I’m so sad to see this. Thankfully, we just talked two weeks ago. What a terrific guy and a great boss to a brand new sales rep. I also lost my older sister on Thursday at age 76 so it’s been a rough week. Diana

Carol Whayne said...

So very sad.

Dan Oates said...

So sad to hear this news.

Jim Rowe said...

I was just thinking it was time for us to get together for lunch.
Sad to hear, great guy😔
Jim Rowe

Bill Taylor said...

It is so sad to lose our friends and companions. John, was one fine leader and man.

Bill

Paul Nagel said...



I really hate to hear this. John was a great guy and a true friend. He will be missed!

Paul Nagel

Steve Jochim said...


John was one of my first contacts with Xerox. Our prayers go out to Donna & all their family. Life isn’t always so nice at our ages.

Steve Jochim

George Hodgson said...


This is terrible news. I'm stunned and so saddened. I didn't know he had any heart problems! This has to be devastating for Donna.
George Hodgson

Gary Schuetz said...


He was a.very happy, radiant guy, always a lot of fun. His laugh was contagious. Sad news indeed!
Gary Schuetz

Bob Gilbert said...


Such a tragic loss for the Roadrunner community. John was a personal friend as well as a long time business associate. He will be greatly missed.
Bob

David Doll said...


John Robison our Head Road Runner went to Road Runner Heaven late Tuesday evening!
This man was one of the greatest influencers in my life and careers!

God knew greatness when He put John Robison and Pete Arnold together and John started the Roadrunner Team in Evansville!

We hear that Paul Logsdon caused some competition in Louisville, but John would never admit it!

John used to call me at 7am and let me know that I had better get busy and pull a 7000 out of my hat from somewhere! Sugarbear got a 24000 yesterday and Larry Morris was out to get me and stop me from being salesman of the month. Sugarbear is on the move and headed toward becoming salesman of the month!

Every day and many times per week John was always revving our engines! He never let up!

John was always pushing for more greatness from us ROADRUNNERS!

John’s continuous pushing, teasing, joking, challenging, and more pushing always to take us to the next level.
He would say: David! you are not a man until you achieve 200% of Quota!

Jim Foreman is Pushing continuous and looking to be salesman of the month next month, no wait Bob Gilbert just got another 660 and is on the move. Mark Zoercher is trying to make Vincennes put out, Tony Frazer and Mike Mudge down in Kentucky are coming on strong! Dan Oates has some serious Government business coming soon, David you better get up earlier, and write proposals on the weekends, so that you can achieve you maximum 8-5 performance!

David! These guys are getting really serious, and we can’t let Logsdon catch us, I’m putting out another challenge to Paul tomorrow!

Did John ever sleep? How did he come up with so many motivations!

And SUGARBEAR DID WIN SALESMAN OF THE MONTH THAT MONTH!

THANKS JOHN FOR TOUCHING MY LIFE AND TAKING ME TO MY NEXT LEVEL!
Thanks God! for this great man in our lives!
David Doll Roadrunner Forever!

Paul Logsdon said...

John had texted me that morning before leaving for Nashville setting a luncheon date for Thursday when they get back.
What a shock! Although we had discussed his cardio visit last week he seemed to think getting Donna to Nashville was
Top priority at the time. That’s true dedication.



Jim McCubbin said...


So sorry. I always liked John he was A tough competitor ( Evansville Vs. Lexington)
Jim McCubbin

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