Ronnie Robinson

Who was Ronnie Robinson?

Ronnie Smith Robinson was an American roller derby skater and coach.

The son of boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, Robinson grew up distant from his father, who divorced his mother shortly after his birth. Sugar Ray counseled him against following him into the world of boxing. After watching roller derby on television, he decided to join the sport, and enrolled in its training school in March 1958, initially under the pseudonym "Ronald Smith". He turned professional after only five months, being placed on the New York Chiefs team. In the early years of his career, he also skated with the Chicago Westerners, Brooklyn Red Devils, Braves, San Diego Clippers and Mexico City Cardenales.

Robinson was the third African American to play roller derby professionally, after George Copeland and Darlene Anderson. He received numerous plaudits, being named for the All-Star team for more than ten years in a row, and was twice named the Most Valuable Player. On one occasion, Robinson fractured his arm in several places, and was unsure whether he would ever be able to use it again. He also lost his front teeth in a fight with Bob Woodbury, and suffered several concussions.