View source for Joe Robbie

{{Short description|American attorney and politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox politician
| name                = Joe Robbie
| image               = JoeRobbie1 (cropped).jpg
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1916|7|7}}
| birth_place         = [[Sisseton, South Dakota]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1990|1|7|1916|7|17}}
| death_place         = [[Coral Gables, Florida]], U.S.
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = Elizabeth Robbie (1942–1990)
| children            = 11
| education           = [[Northern State University]]<br>[[University of South Dakota]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
| resting_place       = Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery (North Lauderdale, Florida)
| nationality         = [[American]]
| occupation          = Lawyer, sports executive
| alma_mater          = [[University of South Dakota]]
| president           = Co-founder and former owner of the [[Miami Dolphins]] (1967–1969)
}}
'''Joseph Robbie''' (July 7, 1916 – January 7, 1990) was an American attorney, politician, and the principal founder of the [[Miami Dolphins]].

==Early life==
Robbie was raised in [[Sisseton, South Dakota]], the second of five children. His father was a [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]] immigrant and restaurant manager and his mother was a [[baker]] and the daughter of [[Irish people|Irish]] immigrants.<ref name=lynch>{{cite news|last1=Lynch|first1=Ray|title=A Man Of Perfection Joe Robbie Had A Fire That Warmed Many And Burned A Few, Says Danny Thomas.|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-01-09/news/9001180251_1_joe-robbie-black-middle-class-neighborhood-black-hills|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725013739/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-01-09/news/9001180251_1_joe-robbie-black-middle-class-neighborhood-black-hills|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 25, 2015|access-date=July 24, 2015|work=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=January 9, 1990}}</ref> He was raised [[Catholic]].<ref name=opens />

At 14 years old, Robbie was the [[sportswriter]] for his local newspaper, ''The People's Press''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Rosenberg|first1=Michael|title=The Super Bowl that tore the Robbie family apart|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/11/24/miami-dolphins-super-bowl-joe-robbie-stadium|access-date=August 20, 2017|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=November 23, 2015}}</ref> In 1934, during the [[Great Depression]], Robbie dropped out of high school to work as a [[lumberjack]] for the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] in the [[Black Hills]], sending $25 of his $30 monthly earnings home to his family. After completing his high school education in 1936, Robbie enrolled at [[Northern State University|Northern State Teachers College]] on a debating scholarship.<ref name=lynch /> After three years, he transferred to the [[University of South Dakota]].<ref name=opens>{{cite news|last1=Connelly|first1=Michael|last2=Hill|first2=Bob|title=A Dream Fulfilled Joe Robbie Was Told By Many People That There Was No Way He Would Be Able To Build A Stadium For His Professional Football Team. Joe Robbie Stadium Opens Tonight.|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-08-16/specialsection/8703070898_1_new-stadium-joe-robbie-stadium-dolphins-football|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725011733/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-08-16/specialsection/8703070898_1_new-stadium-joe-robbie-stadium-dolphins-football|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 25, 2015|access-date=July 24, 2015|publisher=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=August 16, 1987}}</ref> Robbie met his future wife, Elizabeth, while he was a senior at the school and she was a freshman. The couple were married two years later.<ref name=lynch />

Robbie enlisted in the [[United States Navy|Navy]] on the day after the Japanese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. Robbie saw substantial action in the [[Pacific Ocean theater of World War II|Pacific theater]] and was awarded a [[Bronze Star]] for his service. After his discharge, he used the [[G.I. Bill]] to return to [[University of South Dakota School of Law]] as a law student.<ref name=lynch />

==Politics==
Following his graduation from law school, Robbie worked as a [[State's attorney#Assistant or deputy state's attorneys|deputy state's attorney]] and a professor of [[economics]] at [[Dakota Wesleyan University]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Joseph Robbie, Jr., Will Address Carroll Students|url=http://www.smokershistory.com/Robbie.htm|access-date=July 24, 2015|publisher=[[Independent Record]]|date=May 11, 1952|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128140431/http://www.smokershistory.com/Robbie.htm|archive-date=January 28, 2020}}</ref> In 1948, at 33 years old, Robbie entered politics. He was elected to the [[South Dakota House of Representatives]] as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].<ref name=lynch /> In 1950, he ran for [[Governor of South Dakota]] but lost to [[Sigurd Anderson]].<ref name=opens /> The following year, Robbie and his family moved to [[Minneapolis]] at the encouragement of then-mayor [[Hubert H. Humphrey]].<ref name=lynch />

His political and business careers further developed in Minnesota. In addition to operating his own law firm, Robbie served as regional counsel for the [[Office of Price Stabilization]] in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.<ref>{{cite news|title=Grocery Price Test in Fargo Held Success|url=http://www.smokershistory.com/Robbie.htm|access-date=July 24, 2015|publisher=[[Austin Daily Herald]]|date=February 11, 1952|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128140431/http://www.smokershistory.com/Robbie.htm|archive-date=January 28, 2020}}</ref> He was also a charter member of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Commission and chairman of the Minnesota Municipal Commission.<ref name=jones>{{cite journal |last=Millman |first=Joel |date=December 1986 |title=Miami Blitz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-cDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22joe+robbie%22+northern+state+teachers+college&pg=PT23 |journal=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |access-date=July 24, 2015 }}</ref> In addition to working on Humphrey's political campaigns, Robbie represented [[Minnesota's 5th congressional district]] at the [[1960 Democratic National Convention]].<ref name=opens /><ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota Delegation to the 1960 Democratic National Convention|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/D/1960/MN.html|website=PoliticalGraveyard.com|publisher=[[The Political Graveyard]]|access-date=July 24, 2015}}</ref>

Robbie also worked as a [[lobbyist]] for the [[tobacco industry]] from the 1960s until his death. In 1963, he appeared before the [[United States Senate]] to voice opposition to a bill which would have regulated [[tobacco advertising]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cigarette Ad Ban Bill Favored|url=http://www.smokershistory.com/Robbie.htm|access-date=July 24, 2015|publisher=[[Albert Lea Tribune]]|date=April 11, 1963|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128140431/http://www.smokershistory.com/Robbie.htm|archive-date=January 28, 2020}}</ref> From 1971 until 1989, he was the head of the  Minnesota Candy & Tobacco Distributors Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Joseph Robbie Page|url=http://www.smokershistory.com/Robbie.htm|website=Smokers History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128140431/http://www.smokershistory.com/Robbie.htm|access-date=July 24, 2015|archive-date=January 28, 2020}}</ref>

==Professional sports==
After moving to Minneapolis, Joe Robbie took an interest in [[Professional football (gridiron)|professional football]] and became a season ticket holder for the [[Minnesota Vikings]].<ref name="pbp">{{cite news |last1=George |first1=Dave |date=September 5, 2015 |title=Joe Robbie's political, Hollywood ties helped secure Dolphins franchise |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/football/joe-robbie-political-hollywood-ties-helped-secure-dolphins-franchise/VmgWfUnChyfRqItNbzdN9O/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821002104/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/football/joe-robbie-political-hollywood-ties-helped-secure-dolphins-franchise/VmgWfUnChyfRqItNbzdN9O/ |archive-date=2017-08-21 |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=[[Palm Beach Post]]}}</ref>

In March 1965, Robbie met with [[American Football League]] (AFL) Commissioner [[Joe Foss]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] During the meeting, Foss encouraged Robbie to consider [[Miami]] as a potential site for an AFL expansion franchise. At the meeting, Foss recommended that Robbie look into [[Miami]] as a potential site for an [[expansion franchise]]. Robbie formed a partnership with comedian [[Danny Thomas]], a fellow [[Lebanese-American]], and raised the $7.5 million required to purchase an expansion team.<ref name="lynch" />

The Dolphins' stadium was officially called [[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]] from its opening in 1987 until 1996. It has undergone a series of [[Hard Rock Stadium#Naming rights|name changes]] since, and it is currently known as [[Hard Rock Stadium]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago Tribune {{!}} Chicago |date=1989-01-22 |title=ROBBIE'S BRAINCHILD NOW STANDS AS HIS MONUMENT |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/01/22/robbies-brainchild-now-stands-as-his-monument/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

In addition to his work in football, Robbie briefly appeared as himself in the 1977 thriller [[Black Sunday (1977 film)|Black Sunday]], where he was interviewed about security measures for [[Super Bowl X]] (1976), which was held at the [[Orange Bowl]] in Miami.<ref>{{cite web|author=Movieclips|via=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZnhCcj4sXg&t=0m35s|title=Black Sunday (5/8) Movie CLIP - What Exactly Is This Super Bowl? (1977) HD|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref>

Robbie was also involved in professional [[Association football|soccer]], owning both the [[Miami Toros]], which rebranded in 1977 as the [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977–1983)|Fort Lauderdale Strikers]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=National Soccer Hall of Fame |url=http://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/builders/joe-robbie.html |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=National Soccer Hall of Fame |language=en}}</ref> Both of teams that competed in the [[North American Soccer League]] (NASL). During the early 1980s, the Strikers were temporarily relocated to [[Minnesota]] and played as the [[Minnesota Strikers]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1983-12-01 |title=Strikers Moving To Minnesota |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/01/sports/strikers-moving-to-minnesota.html |access-date=2025-06-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1988–1994)|Strikers]] later returned to [[Florida]] and resumed operations in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]], eventually competing in the [[American Professional Soccer League]] (APSL). 

[[Joe Robbie Stadium]] was one of the first major sports venues in the United States designed with soccer in mind and was also engineered to be easily reconfigured for baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hard Rock Stadium History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/stadiums/MIA00.htm |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Believing in Miami's growth as a major sports market, Robbie predicted the city would eventually secure a [[Major League Baseball]] [[List of Major League Baseball franchise postseason droughts|franchise]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=The Making of the Marlins – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-making-of-the-marlins/ |access-date=2025-06-22 |language=en-US}}</ref> His prediction was realized in 1990—just two months after his death—when Miami was awarded the [[Florida Marlins]] (now the [[Miami Marlins]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=1990-01-08 |title=DOLPHINS OWNER JOE ROBBIE DIES AT 73 |url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/1/8/18840255/dolphins-owner-joe-robbie-dies-at-73/ |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>

==Honors and awards==

* For his contributions to the Miami Dolphins, and being the founder of the team, Joe Robbie became the inaugural inductee on the [[Miami Dolphins Honor Roll]] on September 16, 1990 (eight months after his death).

* For their efforts both Joe and Elizabeth Robbie were inducted as 'Builders' into the [[National Soccer Hall of Fame|U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame]] in 2003.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist|40em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news|author=AP|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/09/obituaries/joe-robbie-73-nfl-owner-who-founded-miami-dolphins.html|title=Joe Robbie, 73, N.F.L. Owner Who Founded Miami Dolphins|work=The New York Times |date=January 9, 1990|access-date=January 3, 2017}}
* {{cite news|first=Chris|last=Lazzarino|work=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-11-06/news/9102150070_1_elizabeth-robbie-dan-robbie-dolphins-founder|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228133738/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-11-06/news/9102150070_1_elizabeth-robbie-dan-robbie-dolphins-founder|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2013|title=Elizabeth Robbie, Widow Of Founder Of Miami Dolphins|date=November 6, 1991|access-date=January 3, 2017}}
* {{cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Rosenberg|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/11/24/miami-dolphins-super-bowl-joe-robbie-stadium|title=The Super Bowl that tore a family apart, forever changed stadium deals|date=November 23, 2015|access-date=January 3, 2017}}

==External links==
* {{find a Grave|9203698}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Harold Volz}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of South Dakota]]|years=[[1950 South Dakota gubernatorial election|1950]]}}
{{s-aft|after=Sherman Iverson}}
|-
{{s-bus}}
{{s-new|first}}
{{s-ttl|title=Principal Owner of the [[Miami Dolphins]]|years=1966–1990}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Wayne Huizenga]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Miami Dolphins}}
{{Miami Dolphins general manager navbox}}
{{Miami Dolphins president navbox}}
{{DolphinsOwner}}
{{DolphinsHonorRoll}}
{{National Soccer Hall of Fame members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robbie, Joe}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:American lobbyists]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Lebanese descent]]
[[Category:American soccer chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps people]]
[[Category:Dakota Wesleyan University faculty]]
[[Category:Members of the South Dakota House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins owners]]
[[Category:Minnesota Democrats]]
[[Category:Minnesota lawyers]]
[[Category:National Soccer Hall of Fame members]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) executives]]
[[Category:People from Sisseton, South Dakota]]
[[Category:Politicians from Minneapolis]]
[[Category:South Dakota Democrats]]
[[Category:South Dakota lawyers]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:University of South Dakota School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the South Dakota Legislature]]