Tree Planted at VCSU in Honor of Larry Robinson

VALLEY CITY – Friends, family, and former colleagues of Larry Robinson gathered Wednesday morning to plant a tree in his honor on the Valley City State University campus.

A 1971 graduate of Valley City State, Robinson began his career at VCSU in 1975 and retired in 2024 after nearly 50 years of dedicated service to the university’s mission. He also served 32 years as a Senator in the North Dakota State Legislature. Robinson passed away in September 2025.

Through donations from the District 24 Democrats and the VCSU Foundation staff, a 12-foot Accolade Elm was purchased and planted in his memory in front of McFarland Hall.

The Accolade Elm – a fast-growing hybrid resistant to Dutch Elm disease – replaces the iconic American Elm that previously stood in front of McFarland Hall but was damaged in a major storm last summer and had to be removed.

The tree planted in Robinson’s honor is one of several new trees that have been planted on the VCSU campus recently to replace those lost in the storm last June.

Photo: Family of Larry Robinson attended the tree planting ceremony, including wife Mary Lee, grandson Jax, and son James.