Robert & Roberta Emerson
( 1991 )

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Long active in local and state politics, Robert K. Emerson, who died in 1991 at age 69, served on John F. Kennedy's campaign staff during West Virginia historic 1960 presidential primary. A native of San Francisco, he grew up in Illinois and served in the Navy in the the South Pacific during World War II.  He graduates from the University of Virginia Law School in 1949 and became a partner in the Huntington law firm now known as Campbell Woods PLLC. Active in civic affairs, he served on the board of United Way, the Boy Scouts and the Huntington Museum of Art, where his wife Roberta S. Emerson (1922-1998) was director. In her 16 years as director, Roberta was  instrumental in transforming the Huntington Galleries into the Huntington Museum of Art, a transition that meant far more than a change in name, Under her leadership, the museum grew from a staff of five and an annual budget of $125,000 to a staff of 30 and a budget of $1.25.million. She first became involed with the museum as a trustee, was named director in 1972 and held that post until her retirement in 1988.

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