Dr. Morris Lee Robbins Jr.'s Obituary
Dr. Morris Lee Robbins Jr., 88, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away on August 16, 2024. Growing up in Cookeville, Tennessee, he had the unique opportunity to have grade school, high school, and college all within a walk or bike ride from his home. He spent his two year pre-doctoral education at Tennessee Tech. He received his DDS degree from the UT College of Dentistry in 1958, only five years from high school graduation.
It was as a dental student that he met the love of his life. Fate stepped in and brought him his future wife, Laura Dee Roop, as a patient. They were married in December 1958.
After graduation, Dr. Robbins spent a year in public health dentistry in Jacksonville, Florida. One year later, the Robbins moved back to Memphis where he went into practice with Dr. Charles Kyle for two years. After completing a US Public Health Service Fellowship in Pathology, he was invited to become a faculty member in the Department of Oral Diagnosis and teach pathology at the UT College of Dentistry, beginning what was to become a long and very special relationship with the university.
He later became the Assistant Chair of Oral Diagnosis and soon thereafter was asked to chair the Department of Dental Hygiene. After chairing the Dental Hygiene Department in the College of Allied Health for six years, he was named Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs by newly appointed Dean of the College of Dentistry, Dr. Bill Slagle. He was Dr. Slagle’s first appointment as dean.
Dr. Robbins was very active in organized dentistry during his career, serving as president of the Memphis Dental Society, the Tennessee Dental Association and the College of Dentistry faculty. In 2004, he was appointed to the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. He was elected Chair of the Commission for two consecutive years.
During his 19 years of service as the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs in the College of Dentistry, he became interested in safety and health and, in particular, the issue of OSHA compliance and infection control. He became a much sought after speaker on OSHA and infection control and continued for many years to speak on these topics and chair the TDA Committee on the Environment and Infection Control.
In addition to dentistry, Dr. Robbins saw patients after school hours in the College of Dentistry and began working with the American Cancer Society, eventually serving as president-elect of the Tennessee Division of the American Cancer Society and on the board of the ACS Mid-South Division. He was also active with the American Heart Association and served as a CPR instructor since 1966. He was a long standing member of the Memphis Rotary Club.
Dr. Robbins received numerous awards for his service such as the 2000 Jack E. Wells Dedication to Dentistry Award, which is the highest award presented by the Tennessee Dental Association, the 2002 Outstanding Alumnus Award from the UT College of Dentistry, the Humanitarian Award from the Memphis Dental Society, and the St. George’s medal from the American Cancer Society. He also received the UT National Alumni Association Public Service Award in 1991 for his work with the American Cancer Society.
He was preceded in death by his parents Morris Lee Robbins Sr. and Rema Schubert Robbins. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Laura Dee (Roop) Robbins and his sister, Louisa Robbins Mesich (Larry), two nephews and one niece.
Services for Dr. Robbins will be held on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 2:00pm in the Fireside Chapel. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service starting at 1:00pm.
If someone wants to make a gift to the UT College of Dentistry in Dr. Robbins’ memory, they can direct it to the Morris and Laura Dee Robbins Professorship Endowment. Gifts may be sent to:
UT Health Science Center
Office of Advancement
62 S. Dunlap, Suite 500
Memphis, TN 38163
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