Tackling the Tower
Hats off to Texas Cowboy Corbin Robertson for his efforts to raise funds for our Tower.
Corbin “Corby” Robertson, BBA ’69, has been a devoted Longhorn ever since he came to the Forty Acres in 1965. As captain, he led the football team to victory in the 1969 Cotton Bowl Classic; now he’s leading efforts to raise money for our Tower.
Corby was recruited to play for The University of Texas at Austin by Longhorn legend Darrell K Royal himself. The talented linebacker had many options on where to go to college but Corby counts his decision to attend UT as one of his best.
“If you want to live and work in Texas, there’s no better place to go to school,” he says.
He thrived on campus, joining the Texas Cowboys in his sophomore year. Through that service organization, he met his wife, Barbara, B.S. ’69, a Texas Cowboys Sweetheart. Their three children and five of their grandchildren to date have followed their path to the Forty Acres. And 57 years after graduation, Corby remains connected to the campus, continuing to serve the University.
A Longstanding History of Service
The Tower stands tall in Corby’s memories because of its significance to Athletics. Turning the iconic landmark burnt orange with a win was always his objective. Seeing it lit with #1 after the Cotton Bowl was a career highlight. Corby was recently inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame, and as a Longhorn fan to this day, seeing the Tower glow after watching games with his fellow football players and lifelong friends still gives him a thrill.
Of equal importance to Corby’s UT experience was his involvement with the Texas Cowboys service organization, which predates our Tower by 15 years. Since its inception in 1922, the Texas Cowboys have focused on finding men who could both lead and serve their community. The organization has a long history of fundraising for important causes, notably the Arc of the Capital Area, which serves Central Texas with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Over the years, the Cowboys have contributed more than $1M to its cause.
As a junior, Corby was so inspired by the power of how community service can change people’s lives that he and teammate Chris Gilbert co-founded Camp Olympia, which helps children ages 6 to 16 gain leadership and teamwork skills.
“I just went to my 57th counselor training school,” says Corby. “We’ve had 400,000 kids go through there. I’m very proud of how Chris and I started something that continues to bring people together.”
Being part of an established network focused on making an impact helped shape Corby’s worldview. He credits the Cowboys’ slogan — “Give the best you have to Texas, and the best will come back to you” — for helping him achieve his goals and embed philanthropy in his personal credo.
“If you apply that motto to anything in life,” says Corby, “it’s a pretty good prescription for how to be successful.”
Corby’s professional success began when he joined the family business, Quintana Petroleum, founded by his grandfather. He is currently the chairman and CEO of Natural Resource Partners and serves on numerous boards.
Community service continues to be a huge part of Corby’s life. As chair of the Baylor College of Medicine, he advocated for moving Menninger Clinic from Topeka, Kansas, to Houston, improving mental health services for Texans. He co-manages the Cullen Trust for Higher Education, founded by his mother, which invests in education, healthcare, public service and arts organizations.
“My kids are part of a fourth-generation philanthropic family,” says Corby, “and we hope that we’re raising a fifth generation.”
Recently Corby and Barbara made a major gift to the Our Tower campaign, setting an example for his family and within the network of the 2,300-plus Texas Cowboys alumni whose support he is rallying. To date, the Cowboys have raised more than $5.1M for the Tower, continuing their emphasis on giving their best to Texas.
“Many Cowboys have gone on to have significant success and significant experiences making contributions in our society,” says Corby. “Together we can make a meaningful contribution to fixing up the Tower, making it a place where people can connect.”
You can support the Tower restoration and keep our campus landmark shining bright for future generations. Make a gift today.
Our Tower. Our Time.
We are embarking on a venture to restore, revitalize and reimagine the most iconic, most beloved landmark on our campus: the UT Tower.
Visit tower.utexas.edu to learn more and to support this once-in-a-lifetime effort.
