After more than half a century of service to the City of Amarillo, Rosemary Robinson is closing a remarkable chapter in local history. The Covert Tactical Operations Administrative Specialist with the Amarillo Police Department officially retired Wednesday, marking 52 years of continuous service — the longest tenure of any city employee in Amarillo’s history.
Robinson, who turned 74 on October 25, joined the City of Amarillo on February 12, 1973. At just 21 years old, the McLean native and West Texas A&M University graduate (then West Texas State) began her career hoping to simply make it past her probationary period.
“I guess I accomplished that,” Robinson said with a laugh.
Over the next five decades, Robinson became a fixture within the Amarillo Police Department (APD). City officials noted that she served under seven police chiefs and 12 mayors. When she began her career, Richard Nixon was President of the United States, and Amarillo looked very different than it does today.
“Retirement will be bittersweet,” Robinson reflected. “The key for me was that I really enjoyed my job for most of those years. The best thing about the job was not knowing what would happen when you walked in the door. Every day was different, and I like that.”
Her dedication and consistency became a source of inspiration for generations of city employees and officers who came through APD.
“Rosemary is the epitome of a public servant and what it means to be part of the Amarillo Police Department,” said Interim APD Chief Jimmy Johnson. “She has been the example of dedication, consistency and stability for more than 50 years. We love her and we are going to miss her, but no one has earned retirement more than Rosemary Robinson.”
Robinson said what she will miss most are the relationships she built over the years.
“All the admins are pretty close. We work together and become close,” Robinson said. “I have gotten to know and help so many of our police officers over the years and many of them are friends.”
As for what’s next, Robinson said she isn’t planning on slowing down too much.
“I still bowl,” she said with a smile. “My average is around 130 – sometimes worse, sometimes better.”
She also plans to continue her long involvement with Soroptimist International of Amarillo, a women’s service organization dedicated to supporting women and girls in the community.
“I have done that for the past 30 years, and I will continue to do that,” Robinson said. “I really enjoy it.”
Still, retirement will be an adjustment — especially for her 15-year-old calico cat, Calli.
“This will take some getting used to,” Robinson said. “I know Calli will be wondering why I am still at home and why I am not leaving.”
After five decades of early mornings, evolving technology, and countless coworkers, Robinson says her career’s lasting theme has been simple: joy in the work.
“That was really it – enjoying the job for all those years,” she said.
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