Jim Robinson is a former Houston area broadcaster who went on to hold a varied and distinguished public service career.
His experience includes service as headquarters public information officer and director of special projects for the Texas Department of Public Safety, executive director of the former Texas State Property Tax Board, 23 years as chief appraiser of the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD), and 10 years as senior director of interagency coordination for Harris County. During his tenure with the Texas DPS, he held a concurrent faculty appointment in law enforcement at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University).
His work for Harris County included conducting a comparative financial review of the Harris Health System.
In addition to his civilian employment, Robinson completed 27 years of service as a citizen soldier, retiring as a major general commanding the Texas State Guard. His state military awards include the Lone Star Distinguished Service medal.
As a broadcaster, he and his family were the original owners of what is now Houston FM station Majic 102. After selling the station, he worked as a correspondent for the Houston Chronicle.
He earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from Sam Houston State University, with additional work toward a doctorate in safety education at Texas A&M University. His military education includes completion of the National Security Management Program of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (National Defense University).
Robinson has extensive service on governmental boards including the Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) board where he was the board’s first vice chair for six years and chair of METRO’s Customer Service, Operations and Public Safety committee. He currently represents Harris County on the HCAD board of directors and is an elected director and vice president of the board of Harris County Municipal Utility District 457. While a resident of the Austin area, he served as an elected trustee of the Round Rock Independent School District and as board president.
His work with professional organizations includes service as vice president of the Texas UPI Broadcasters’ Association, president of the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts, vice chair of the Police Public Information Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and metropolitan jurisdiction chair for the International Association of Assessing Officers.
With a profound interest in severe weather from his experience in broadcasting and at DPS, he assisted the National Weather Service in development of the NWS Emergency Managers’ Weather Information Network (EMWIN) and, for his pioneering contribution to that activity, the National Weather Association presented him its Walter J. Bennett public service award.
He is a certified fraud examiner, a registered professional appraiser in the State of Texas, and is certified by the state as a master peace officer. In addition, he has served as chief of reserve deputies for Harris County Constable Pct. 3 and a reserve captain with Harris County Constable Pct. 1.
Original Appointment: May 2023