Carl Terrell (Terry) Robinson, former radio station group owner and satellite radio pioneer, died of cancer September 8 at his home in Colorado Springs.

Robinson, 64, along with partner Bill Moyes, started Sunbelt Communications and formed Transtar in 1981 in Colorado Springs, becoming the first in the country to deliver long-form radio programming via satellite.

“Terry and I worked as a team ever since grad school,” Moyes recalled in an email. “He was the “conceptualizer” and he could be brilliant at that: a real “big picture” guy who could think all the way down the line to financial victory. I was the guy that figured out how to make his vision a reality.”

In 1989 Transtar merged with United Stations Radio Network and became Unistar, eventually acquired by Westwood One and operated by Dial Global.

“It’s not everyone who can say they actually changed something in the industry they work in, but Terry Robinson and his partner Bill Moyes actually did, said Skip Joeckel, formerly of Transtar and now with Talk Shows USA.

Robinson was also remembered for his guest shots with the area oldies group, “Flash Cadillac,” bringing down the house with his performances of his favorite Elvis songs and other classics.

“He said that those days on Brookside (Street) were some of the best of his life,” recalled former Sunbelt employee, Mark Murray.

Robinson is survived by his wife, Vivian Cobb Robinson, his children, Matthew, Patrick and Maggie Robinson, his step-children, Stephanie and Ben Gardner and Chris Ionescu-Cobb, his three sisters, Debbie Adams, Karen Madison and Kim Robinson, numerous adoring nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces and many, many devoted friends.

A celebration of his life and accomplishments will be held Saturday, October 8 at 5 p.m. at Stargazers Theatre, 10 south Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs.

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